Despite concerns, leaders back Indonesia's war on separatists The Australian government walked a diplomatic tightrope yesterday in its response to the military offensive in Aceh, expressing concern for civilian deaths but affirming Indonesia's right to maintain its territorial integrity. On one hand, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said he was worried the Indonesian campaign against Acehnese separatists could lead to a heavy loss of life. On the other, Defence Minister Robert Hill said he did not think the resumption of one of Asia's longest-running secessionist struggles would harm relations between Australia and Indonesia. 'Aceh was always part of the Indonesian state [and] we believe that Indonesia's got a perfect right to maintain its internal integrity. We regret that there are those who are in armed revolt,' he said. While mindful that there will be deep disquiet among Australians if the Aceh offensive turns out to be a long and bloody one, the government is keen not to upset Indonesia. Relations between the two countries hit rock bottom in 1999, when Australia backed East Timor's bid for independence, but have since improved dramatically. They received a further boost in the aftermath of last October's nightclub bombings in Bali, with Indonesian and Australian police investigators collaborating closely. Trade and investment are also expanding. Indonesia is Australia's tenth largest market for merchandise exports and the country's eighth largest source of imports. Australia maintains a large bilateral programme of economic, technical and humanitarian assistance. Last February, the two nations jointly chaired a regional ministerial conference on people-smuggling and international crime. The last thing the Howard government wants is for the Acehnese movement to encourage other restive provinces, such as Papua. The potential breakup of Australia's vast northern neighbour could lead to the exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees - a prospect which has long haunted strategic planners in Canberra. But the government is not without its critics. The opposition Labor Party has urged Mr Downer to call for United Nations intervention in Aceh, while Bob Brown, the leader of the Greens party, said Australia could not turn a blind eye to the fate of the province. 'We have moved to intervene in the Solomons, [and] to help Papua New Guinea, and we should be moving to help Indonesia and Aceh find a resolution here,' he said.
