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Indonesia freezes university ties over Papua

Source
Australian Associated Press - May 8, 2006

Indonesia has frozen ties with two Australian universities, accusing their academics of supporting Papuan separatism.

A spokeswoman for the Indonesian Education Ministry, Nur Samsiah said Deakin University and RMIT University in Melbourne had both been blacklisted, preventing the two institutions from having ties or pursuing contracts with campuses in Indonesia.

"It's because of RMIT's support for the separatist movement, she told AAP. "There are two of them, RMIT and Deakin University." In RMIT's case, it was the second time a ban had been ordered.

This time the ban was related to the raising of the separatist Morning Star flag on its campus following Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to 42 Papuan independence activists, Samsiah said.

"Cooperation for these two universities is now on hold," she said "For programs currently underway, they will be completed if there is an agreement to do so, but after that it shall be stopped.

"Their academics, their lecturers and their campuses are used for supporting separatists." The bans, she said, were being coordinated with Indonesia's Foreign Ministry.

Also being discussed is a proposal to suspend accreditation by Indonesia of courses being taken by Indonesian students at both Victorian campuses.

The move, if put into force, would stop Indonesian students from studying there. The row over the visas has plunged relations between the two neighbours to their lowest level since Australia's military intervention in East Timor following that country's vote for independence in 1999.

The Indonesian government has withdrawn its ambassador in protest.

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