Yudhoyono studying letter from Abbott

In a sign that a severe row between Indonesia and Australia may be easing, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is studying a letter from Prime Minister Tony Abbott over phone tapping revelations.

Dr Yudhoyono, who is in Bali on a working visit, did not comment on the letter on Saturday night. Neither his spokesman nor Mr Abbott has disclosed its contents.

Mr Abbott was cited by Bloomberg news agency as saying: "One of the fundamental tasks of my government is to ensure that our relationship with Indonesia goes from strength to strength."

Dr Yudhoyono had sent a strongly worded letter to Mr Abbott last Wednesday notifying him of a halt to all military, information and intelligence exchanges with Canberra, and calling for a code of conduct on security cooperation going forward.

The saga began last Monday when Australia's media reported disclosures from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that Australian intelligence had tapped the phones of Dr Yudhoyono, his wife and top Indonesian leaders in 2009.

The news drew swift protestations from Indonesian officials and politicians, and after the freeze in security ties, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta last Thursday and Friday.

Australia has advised its citizens to maintain high levels of vigilance, as the dispute threatened to spill over into the business sector.

On Saturday, Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce announced he was postponing a scheduled visit to Indonesia this week, given the circumstances.

The Weekend Australian newspaper said the government is bracing itself for the possible release of more embarrassing material from the leaked US intelligence about Indonesia and other Asian nations.

But mindful that a prolonged row could affect tourism - almost one million Australians visit Indonesia every year - National Police chief General Sutarman has given a guarantee that the security of Australian tourists, like that of all tourists, embassies and consulates, would be protected.

However, he maintained that cooperation on people-smuggling was on hold, saying of illegal immigrants heading for Australia: "Violations being conducted beyond Indonesian waters are no longer our business."

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Cabinet Office said the President had, on Nov 4, signed an order designating the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) as the coordinator of all its other intelligence-gathering organisations.

The move preceded the latest disclosures, and will strengthen BIN's powers to review and regulate national intelligence matters as well as the use of intelligence equipment and material, among other things.

BIN will establish a central intelligence committee chaired by its chief, Lieutenant-General Marciano Norman, that will include the intelligence chiefs of the National Police, Armed Forces, Attorney-General's Office and other agencies.

BIN's regional offices across the country will also coordinate intelligence activities of these agencies within the regions.

zakirh@sph.com.sg

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