Indonesian Vice President Boediono has taken the opportunity of a visit to Australia to again deny allegations of corruption against his President. The allegations were published by Australian newspapers based on leaked US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks. They allege President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono interfered in a corruption investigation, that his wife is profiting from her political connections, and that vote buying remains part of Indonesian politics.

Presenter: Karon Snowdon

Speaker: Boediono, Indonesian Vice President

Boediono: Well we consider this kind of document transmitted through Wikileaks as just raw information, unverified, therefore we don't think that we should really respond disproportionately with regards to this kind of thing. But it is regrettable that this kind of thing, this raw unverified information circulates widely without any other countervailing information.

Snowdon: What's the level of concern over the comments themselves, the fact that they are communicated from the embassy staff back to Washington apparently?

Boediono: We consider this kind of thing as diplomatic practice of some countries. We have no objection over that, and I would think that other countries may do the same thing.

Snowdon: But they cast quite serious allegations against the President?

Boediono: Also unverified and I think it is best if there should be any information, important information that should be really clarified.

Snowdon: Evidence you mean?

Boediono: Yes evidence and also transmitted to those who are concerned, before putting it public, because it is really damaging actually, if it turns to be it's not true, and the damage is done.

Snowdon: You're confident there's no truth to any of the allegations?

Boediono: Well I have full confidence in the President.

Snowdon: It raises once again the issue of corruption, broader corruption in Indonesia doesn't it? Is it possible to say that money politics for example no longer exists in Indonesia?

Boediono: No I can't answer that.

Snowdon: It still exists?

Boediono: It still exists yes.

Snowdon: Which is meaning that people can still buy their way into powerful political positions?

Boediono: I think money politics is still there, and this is exactly what we are trying to stop in terms of our programs and anti-corruption programs that affects many people in the government, both in the executive legislative and the judiciary. I think this program is the main answer for containing at least, money politics.

Snowdon: You think real progress is being made now?

Boediono: Yes I think so.

Snowdon: A personal question if I may... Will you be standing as a presidential candidate in 2014?

Boediono: No, I will not.

Snowdon: Definitely not?

Boediono: Definitely.

Snowdon: A question again on Indonesia's democracy, the killing of two members of the Ahmadiyah group last month by a crazed mob shocked Indonesians and the world. Yet senior police stood by and watched and didn't intervene, and further to that, district governors are now banning the Ahmadiyah belief, the group, against the constitutional right of freedom of religion in Indonesia. Now we don't have time really to go into all the disturbing aspects of that case, but does the rise of religious intolerance undermine Indonesia's hard fought for democracy?

Boediono: It's our strong commitment to consolidate our democracy. It is really the commitment of all people of Indonesia. So if there should be any division from the er... if there's a good basis for democracy, then we shall fight hard. And that particular case you mentioned, the government has actually taken very strong action toward including some members of the police force.

Snowdon: Very senior members?

Boediono: Yes.

Snowdon: Brigadier General, Police Commissioner?

Boediono: Yes, we do mean business yes.

Snowdon: They've been stood down, are they going to be charged or sacked from their posts?

Boediono: Well we'll let the police do the further investigations.

Snowdon: Are they being investigated the police chief?

Boediono: Well let's see.

Snowdon: So they're not being investigated yet, the police themselves?

Boediono: I don't know all the detail, but we'll leave it to the police at the moment.

Snowdon: I saw the video of the attack. Did you and the President watch that video?

Boediono: Yes.

Snowdon: And what was your feeling?

Boediono: Very, very sad.

Snowdon: It was very shocking.

Boediono: Yes.

Snowdon: Turning to relations with Australia, does the issue of asylum seekers represent the most difficult issue bilaterally still?

Boediono: That's one of the issues that I think we should together put a more effort into, because it has a deeper and broader root cause. Of course, you have the country of origin issue, and Indonesia is actually just the transit area, but we do have problems. The communities around this area think that we should look into how what we can actually do together to prevent it.

Snowdon: I'd like to use the remaining time we have to talk a little about Papua. You've been given the job I understand by President Yudhoyono of working on reconciliation with disaffected people in Papua. What we hear so often from Papuans is that the major problems are human rights abuses by security forces, and coupled with that, the inadequate response from Jakarta to those human rights abuses. Are you going to do something about that directly?

Boediono: The mandate given by the President to me is to make the program to accelerate the improvement in welfare of Papuans, be more effective than previous programs. That will cover not only economic and physical infrastructure, education and the rest, but it includes also the problem of communicating all these things with the stakeholders. So communication is very central in our new approach with regards to this acceleration of development in Papua.

Snowdon: How well does the issue of Papua sit with Indonesian democracy, which has made great strides in the last decade? But journalists are still excluded, civil rights are restricted in Papua?

Boediono: I don't agree with you that civil rights are restricted. There's no single law in Indonesia that has special restriction on our citizens. But with regard to the opening up of more journalists and so on, I think also this should be looked into by this new unit that we are..

Snowdon: Better access for journalists?

Boediono: Yes, that's part of the communication I mentioned.

Snowdon: When you say there's no civil liberties, problems in Papua, well of course the civil liberties groups would disagree with you. And there are 140 I understand or is claimed, there are 140 political prisoners in Papua, who are in jail for talking about increased autonomy, raising the Morning Star flag and such issues. So it's not very democratic in Papua I would put that to you?

Boediono: Yes, let me say this. There are laws applicable to all Indonesian citizens, laws that apply to anybody, not only to Papuans. So is there no such thing specific civilian rights restrictions for Papuans especially. None.

Snowdon: Thank you for speaking with us.

Boediono: Ok thank you.