REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The House of Representatives' Commission I, whose duties include foreign, defense, and information affairs, approved the National Military's (TNI's) decision to stop all forms of military cooperation with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The decision was taken as the Commission sought to unearth the main causes behind the suspension. Commission I Chairman Abdul Kharis Almasyhari made the statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. "I do agree with the decision to halt cooperation, but we should look deeper into the causes, so that it does not affect bilateral relations between the two countries," he noted.

Almasyhari further stated that he had yet to receive details regarding TNI's decision, but he believes that as neighboring countries, there should be mutual respect between Indonesia and Australia.

Earlier, the National Military Headquarters had decided to suspend all military cooperation with its Australian counterpart. "Yes, there has been a suspension, but it is not a termination of cooperation," Chief of the TNI Headquarters Information Unit Major General Wuryanto remarked in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the TNI had decided to impose a suspension in its military cooperation with the ADF following an evaluation that revealed a technical issue, deemed to be disadvantageous to the Indonesian Military Force. "The key point is that cooperation should be beneficial to both parties. There should be mutual respect and appreciation," he noted.

The suspension covers areas, such as joint training, education programs, soldier exchange, and official visits, he revealed.

Also read: Indonesia halts military cooperation with Australia over West Papua independence poster

Meanwhile, as reported by AP, the military cooperation between Indonesia and Australia has been suspended over an alleged insult of Indonesia's state ideology. Indonesian military spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto said Wednesday that cooperation between the militaries has been suspended indefinitely.

Wuryanto, who goes by one name, said the decision was made after reports emerged of an Indonesian instructor saying that a “laminated paper” displayed at the Australian Special Forces base where he worked was insulting.

Indonesian media reports said the paper contained words that demeaned Pancasila - a set of vague principles that mandates belief in one God and unity among Indonesia's 250 million people.

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