Linda Mottram: Though domestic issues are resurgent with the resumption of Federal Parliamentary sittings, security remains dominant, and the matter of how best to fight terrorism in Indonesia is fuelling a heated debate here in Australia.
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force has defended plans to resume counter terrorism training for Indonesia's disgraced Kopassus special forces unit. Some talks already underway.
It comes after the Federal Opposition argued that counter-terrorism training should be focussed on Indonesia's police, and not Kopassus, and the Prime Minister's accusation in response that Labor is ignoring the prospect that Australian lives could be at stake. Matt Brown reports from Canberra.
Matt Brown: According to the Federal Opposition, the best way to help Indonesia fight terrorism is by training the Indonesian National Police, not Kopassus, which has been condemned for its human rights abuses in East Timor, Irian Jaya, Aceh and elsewhere. But the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, says Kopassus is the only way to go, because the Indonesian police, or POLRI, are not presently able to handle the task.
Peter Cosgrove: I think it's quite clear that at the moment the POLRI capability in that regard is at a modest level, getting better but at a modest level, and we've got a real problem here and now with terrorism in the region. So it was something that was logical. It hasn't progressed, at this stage, beyond the goodwill and the discussions, to say that this is an area both countries would like to explore, but they are at the moment the force in Indonesia who would assist Australians if they were under that sort of threat in Indonesia.
Matt Brown: That being the case, Labor's Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Kevin Rudd, says the Government's missed an opportunity to bolster an important Indonesian police capability.
Kevin Rudd: Well I've visited Indonesian National Police in Jakarta, I think last November from memory. They were crying out for assistance from Australia to assist in the development of their counter-terrorism capabilities then.
Matt Brown: But the Prime Minister has characterised Labor's opposition to renewed ties with Kopassus this way.
John Howard: There is a capacity within that organisation to deal with hijacking in terrorist situations, and those who oppose the links, like Mr Rudd, are really saying that even if Australian lives might be at risk, we don't have contact with them.
Matt Brown: That's angered Kevin Rudd.
Kevin Rudd: The Prime Minister's remarks I regard as an offensive slur and unbecoming of a Prime Minister of Australia.
The bottom line is this, nine months ago John Howard's Government confirmed to the Australian Senate that Kopassus had links with terrorist organisations. Is John Howard now saying that what the Australian Government said to the Senate at that time is no longer applicable, no longer accurate? Well let him say so.
Matt Brown: General Cosgrove says Kopassus is probably the only force that could handle a hostage rescue situation in Indonesia, and the Australian military has valuable assistance to offer that could end up saving the lives of Australians.
Peter Cosgrove: We believe we've got a pretty reasonable counter-hijack and hostage rescue capability here in Australia, and we would like to know that Aussies who might be in a poor position of that nature, off-shore, would have the benefit of some of our expertise available to anybody who would like to exploit it.
Matt Brown: The issue was last explored when the Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, and the Head of the Special Operations Command, Major General Duncan Lewis, visited Indonesia a few weeks ago.
Peter Cosgrove: It was a matter of discussions in principle, without there being any operationalising of the proposition at this stage.
Matt Brown: Further details will be explored by the Australian Defence Attachi in Jakarta, in discussions with his Indonesian counterparts.
Linda Mottram: Matt Brown reporting from Canberra.