REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government should take firm actions following the alleged wiretapping in Indonesia carried out by the United States and Australia, said Hikmahanto Juwana, Professor of International Relations, University of Indonesia.

Professor Juwana said here on Saturday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not miss any opportunity to take firm action and express Indonesia's resentment towards wiretapping activities carried out by the US and Australia.

"Expulsion of diplomats is an example of the action that could be taken in this regard," he opined. According to Juwana, the Minister of Foreign Affairs can ask the US and Australian representatives to return home those diplomats involved with wiretapping in Indonesia. "Another diplomatic way is to declare them persona non grata," he held.

Professor Juwana added that President Yudhoyono need not worry about the reaction of the US and Australia to such moves, due to three specific considerations.

First, the US and Australia are aware that their intelligence agents carried out wiretapping. Further, there was no response from law enforcement agencies following reports in the German daily Der Spiegel and Australia's Sydney Morning Herald about wiretapping carried out by the US and Australia in many countries, including Indonesia.

Secondly, Juwana pointed out that US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot would be aware of the impact of no firm action on the part of President Yudhoyono. He speculated that the anger of the Indonesian people could become violent.

"Moreover, these countries have significant interests in Indonesia, both political and economic," Juwana added. "Even President Obama and Prime Minister Abbot would thank President Yudhoyono for his firm actions," he maintained.

As for the third cause, Juwana explained that firm steps, such as expulsions, would be a milestone in restoring the trust of the Indonesian people in diplomatic relations with the US and Australia. "The diplomats' expulsion would be commensurate with their mistakes," he said.

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