Bilateral relations of both countries experiencing the lowest levels in 1999-2000 due to changes in policy and Australia's involvement in the case of East Timor. The situation led to the termination of all forms of cooperation in the fields of defense, except education, which are nonmilitary.
However, the Bali bombing tragedy I and II, the bombing at the Marriott Hotel, and in front of Australian Embassy in Jakarta, the tsunami disaster in Aceh and earthquake encourage both countries to work together to overcome.
Both Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in his opening address Bilateral Cooperation Conference themed "Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era", in Sydney, Australia, Friday (20 / 2), agreed, partnering interests face various cross-border threats and challenges of an increasingly complex regional and international levels far beyond the differences in perceptions, traditions and backgrounds and value systems related issues in their respective countries and the issues more broadly.
In the dinner, Thursday (19 / 2), commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressed his thanks and appreciation to the people and Government of Indonesia for his help in the event of fire in Australia.
Prime Minister Ruud believes, based on humanitarian and people to people relations will be further strengthen relations between the two countries, who had impressed in the political relations as "Tom and Jerry", citing the analogy presented Elizabeth O'Neill Journalism Award winners from Indonesia, Kartika Sari.
Historical roots
People to people is an important part in the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, signed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard MP and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on April 4, 2005.
It was emphasized again in the Joint Statement of Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in Canberra on 12 November 2008, and enrich the nuances of 20-21 February 2009 conference that followed 160 participants from various components, both Indonesia and Australia.
However, actual people to people relations that have historical roots. In the book Refugees and Rebels: Indonesian exiles in Wartime Australia (2008), Australian historian, Jan Lingard, reveals the human dimension of strong interaction between Australian and Indonesian freedom fighters as well as thousands of refugees stranded in Australia during World War II (1942-1947).
Intensive interaction that seems to be learning for Australians to the history, culture and language of the nearest neighbors are negligible because of the dominance of racist thoughts and xenophobia in Australia at that time.
The book also reveals the support of Australians towards the independence of Indonesia, for example through a strike of railroad workers. The Australian Government then defected from the Command in Southeast Asia and the Netherlands with repatriate the fighters only to the territory of the Republic of Indonesia in 1946 - 1947, and fully support the independence of Indonesia in the UN without the consent of the United Kingdom.
A bilateral agreement between Australia and Indonesia started in 1959, by creating instruments that provide a strong foothold in both countries the legal framework for dealing with various security threats, and emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation through the Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum.
Challenge
Although people believed to be related to people unshakable in the midst of the contemporary political climate is uncertain, the relationship must be maintained and cared for. Its basis is not humanitarian passive-charity, but pay homage to their most basic rights, namely the right to live with a sense of security in a broad sense.
Thus, not too surprising that the problem of human rights (human rights), especially in Papua, a topic of discussion participants questions, especially from Australia. Unfortunately, the issue of human rights as narrowly conceived by a politician from Indonesia.
In his response at the last session of the seminar, he reminded the commitment in the Joint Declaration in 2005, that Australia would not support any separatist movement in Indonesia.
Though, as said Nikolas Feith Tan (22), "Concern on human rights issues does not mean mencukung separatist movements," said student at the University of Melbourne, Australia, was told Compass in a dinner. Nik is the grandson Indonesianis, (late) Herbert Feith, who followed the Youth Exchange Program (2006-2007).
Participants of the Indonesian people to see people have to deal with prejudice and travel advisories from the Australian Government. Level four is one level below which countries are advised not visited by Australians. When asked, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said only normatively.
"Prohibition as it was never effective and not realistic," said Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor of The Australian told Compass. About prejudice, he asserted, the left is the political prejudices, are not systematic.
It may be true that a senior journalist said Yuli Ismartono in the closing panel, "If there is obstruction of human rights on the one hand and airlines banned in other parties, we are committed to be a good neighbor!"
