Indonesia to review ties with Australia amid row over wiretap of president
President Yudhoyono says he deplores as 'remorseless' Abbott's statement on wiretapping
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday that Indonesia is reviewing co-operation with Australia over “hurtful” claims his phone was spied on, a day after Jakarta angrily recalled its ambassador from Canberra.
Yudhoyono also hit out at Prime Minister Tony Abbott for what he said was a lack of remorse over the reports that Australian spy agencies tried to listen to his phone calls, as well as those of his wife and ministers.
The revelations have heaped further pressure on relations between Jakarta and Canberra, which were already strained over earlier spying allegations and the issue of boatpeople heading to Australia via Indonesia.
Indonesia is “reviewing the bilateral cooperation because of Australia’s hurtful action,” Yudhoyono said in a tweet, referring to the accounts of spying in documents leaked by US intelligence fugitive Edward Snowden to Australian media.
Indonesia and Australia are vital strategic and trading partners and have traditionally worked together in many areas, including in anti-terrorism initiatives and on the sensitive issue of asylum seekers.