Issues such as the application of the death penalty in Indonesia and the unresolved case of the killing of five Australian journalists on the eve of Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975 still remain an irritant in the Australia-Indonesia relationship. But they're they're unlikely to overshadow the celebration of how far ties have come under a democratic Indonesia.
Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speakers: Shirley Shakleton, wife of Greg Shakleton of Balibo Five; Bob Brown, Australian Greens Senator; Nick Xenophon, Australian Independent Senator; Mari Pangestu, Indonesian Trade Minister
Mottram: Before a sea of snapping cameras and dozens of Indonesian and Australian dignitaries at Government House in Canberra, President Yudhoyono accepted the award of honorary companion of the Order of Australia, for being a true friend of Australia and for advancing democracy in Indonesia. But at Parliament House, only a few minutes drive away, Shirley Shackleton, wife of murdered Balibo Five journalist Greg Shackleton, was pleading, 35 years on, for justice, via a television advertisement.
Shackleton TV Ad: President Yudhoyono of Indonesia, on behalf of my murdered husband Greg Shackleton, one of the Balibo Five, please send the alleged killers to Australia for trial.
Mottram: Launching the advertisement, Mrs Shackleton was flanked by two Australian Senators including Greens party leader, Bob Brown.
Brown: As great neighbours, we absolutely welcome such a visit and all the positive things that can come out of it and one of these is facing up to this issue of Balibo.
Mottram: And, as Australian Federal Police continue to investigate the Balibo case, Senator Brown urged Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to raise the issue in his talks with President Yudhoyono. Independent Senator Nick Xenophon added his voice on the issue.
Xenophon: Sometimes great friends need to tell uncomfortable truths. And the uncomfortable truth is that what occurred 35 years ago is something that needs to be resolved.
Mottram: And Senator Xenophon has invited Shirley Shackleton to be his guest at the official lunch at Parliament House for President Yudhoyono.
At the same time, activists from West Papua have called on the Australian Prime Minister to raise with President Yudhoyono alleged human rights abuses in the region. And death penalty opponents have called on Canberra to ask President Yudhoyono to ratify the international protocol on the abolition of capital punishment... an issue of some specific sensitivity for Canberra, with two Australians currently on death row in Indonesia.
It's not know whether such issues were discussed in meetings between the Australian and Indonesian foreign ministers. The Australian side would say only that it was a routine meeting where many issues were discussed, ahead of the coming meeting between the leaders. The residual human rights concerns will not overshadow the Yudhoyono visit. Whether the President addresses them when he speaks on the floor of the Australian Parliament this week will be watched closely. In general though, Indonesia's Trade minister Mari Pangestu says the issues must be seen in perspective.
Pangestu: Indonesia has come a long way in terms of dealing with human rights. The past is the past, and there has been a process to deal with the past. But if you look at Indonesia now, I don't think you can question that we don't respect human rights. So I think that's the kind of viewpoints that need to come out and to really reflect on how far Indonesia has come just in ten years really whether its human rights, whether its democracy, whether its anti-corruption.
Mottram: Doctor Pangestu says it's a process the country is still undergoing but she says she hopes Australians can understand more of just what has been achieved so far.