Ina Parlina and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko denied that he had bowed to Australia's "turn back the boats" policy, clarifying his two earlier statements that contradicted Jakarta's rejection of Canberra's hard-line measure.
Indonesia is again in the midst of a row with Australia over the issue following reports that the Australian navy had turned back at least two boats with undocumented migrants onboard attempting to enter the country to seek political asylum since December, with the latest incident occurring Monday.
Recalling his phone conversation with Australian Defence Force chief Gen. David Hurley two weeks ago, Moeldoko said on Thursday that he had never made a statement that could be used to justify Australia's policy.
"My statement did not indicate that I agreed [with the policy], but that I understood such tactical moves. And my reasoning was that the UN declaration says that every country has the right to protect its sovereignty. If it were my responsibility, I would have done the same thing. So, that's the context," he said.
Moeldoko said that he did not want to get involved in politics over the statement. "I am not talking about foreign policy. I am talking about tactical matters in the field."
Jakarta has opposed Canberra's "turn back the boats" policy and has refused to receive undocumented migrants sent back by Australia. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has also said that Indonesia opposed Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's so-called Operation Sovereign Borders.
Moeldoko said that as TNI commander, his actions "must be in line with the country's policy". He denied that he contradicted Marty on the issue. He also played down his earlier statement that he made an agreement with Hurley during the phone conversation on the issue of boat people.
He said the context of the conversation was that the Australian commander informed him that he would send back boats from Indonesia that had Indonesian crews on board.
Agus Barnas, spokesman for the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, has denied that such an agreement existed. However, Australian media reported that Abbott and the Australian Defence Force had indicated that such a discussion had taken place.
The Associated Press news agency also reported that local media group Fairfax Media said that Australia was buying 16 engine-powered and enclosed lifeboats, similar to the lifeboats carried by cruise ships and other large vessels, to prevent migrants attempting to enter the country through Indonesian waters.
When asked whether he would reject boats that had no Indonesian crews in the future, Moeldoko said: "The Australian commander did not bring up the issue. What he said was about boats coming from Indonesia with Indonesian crews on board."
House of Representatives' Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, who oversees security and military affairs at the House, said that although the House backed the government's firm policy on the issue, Moeldoko's move (to agree with Hurley's proposal) was acceptable to ease tension between the two countries.
"I've heard about it [the agreement between Moeldoko and Hurley]. Let the two generals maintain a good relationship. What he [Moeldoko] has done is acceptable because it was meant to halt the worsening relationship between the two countries," he said.
Priyo, however, urged the TNI to take drastic measures if the country's sovereignty was compromised. "But when it relates to the sovereignty of the nation, the TNI commander must not hesitate to take firm action," the Golkar politician said.
The University of Indonesia's defense expert, Andi Widjajanto, said such an agreement might actually exist. "The boat people problem is a huge national issue in Australia, so they have a special task force to coordinate every action. But not in Indonesia; therefore, we have so many coordination channels. The military can coordinate with Australia, and the Navy can do so separately."