REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Defence Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, claimed to have contacted by the Australian Minister of Defence, Marise Payne, related to military cooperation issues between Indonesia-Australia. Payne, said Ryamizard, deplored the incidents of abuse by the Australian military to the state symbol of Indonesia, Pancasila.
"Australia's Defence Minister has sent a letter to me this morning, also a phone call, regretting for the incident," said Ryamizard in the Ministry of Defence Office, Medan Merdeka Barat Street, Central Jakarta, Thursday (5/1).
According to Ryamizard, Marisa Payne also said what happened in the Australian military language school does not reflect the policies of the Defence Ministry and the Australian Defence Forces. The authorities also did an immediate investigation related to the problem and took stern action against individuals involved.
In addition, the language training and education the military bases in a language school in Perth, Australia also temporarily being suspended while a full investigation is conducted.
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"The person involved, who was an Australia's first officer, will be given firm administrative sanctions. They deplore what happened and take firm action of completion, so the principal of the language school are suspended," said Ryamizard.
He said that Australian Defence Minister also apologized on behalf of the Australian armed forces commander. He told the reporter that Marisa Payne said it on a sad tone. "She is so sad, said sorry. It means she was regret," he said.
Ryamizard hopes that such incidents do not recur, because it will make the relationship between Indonesia and Australia to be murky. Therefore, he requested the Australian authorities to give sense to the soldiers to respect other nations.
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