Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said Thursday that the spat between Indonesia and Australia over an alleged insult of the former's military and state ideology of Pancasila should not be prolonged.
Ryamizard said he had communicated with Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne and told her that the two countries should move on from the spat, taking it only as a lesson that the two neighbors should respect each other more in the future.
"I called her to say 'let bygones be bygones'," Ryamizard told reporters after attending an executive meeting to discuss the Indonesian defense strategy this year. "I also told her 'let's enlighten our subordinates so a problem like this will not repeat'," he added.
Early this month, Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo declared a temporary suspension of Indonesian-Australian military cooperation after a special force trainer found materials at an Australian teaching facility that could be perceived as having insulted both the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Pancasila.
Australia has apologized over the alleged insult and promised to dispose of the materials deemed offensive by the TNI.
Ryamizard previously said the Australian government was serious in probing the alleged insult and emphasized that the halt in military cooperation would not affect relations elsewhere. (evi)