Indonesia suspends military cooperation with Australia

After a “laminated paper” displayed at the Australian Special Forces base allegedly insulted Indonesian state ideology.

In this November 26, 2013 file photo, members of Pemuda Pancasila step on pictures of Australia’s then Prime Minister Tony Abbott during a protest against claims that Australian spies targeted the phone of then Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia said on Wednesday that it had suspended military cooperation with Australia after a “laminated paper” displayed at the Australian Special Forces base allegedly insulted Pancasila, a set of vague principles that mandates belief in one God and unity among Indonesia’s 250 million people.

: Indonesia said on Wednesday that it had suspended military cooperation with Australia over an alleged insult of Indonesian state ideology.

Indonesian military spokesman Major General Wuryanto said that cooperation has been suspended indefinitely, and that the decision was made after considering many matters.

Although Maj. Gen. Wuryanto declined to give the exact reason for the decision, he said among the factors were reports of an Indonesian instructor saying that a “laminated paper” displayed at the Australian Special Forces base where he worked was insulting.

‘Ties based on mutual respect’

“This is not a protest ... we would like to establish a useful cooperation for the two nations based on mutual respect,” Maj. Gen. Wuryanto told The Associated Press. “Technically, it is not running well.”

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne said in a statement that Indonesia had informed Australia of the decision.

Some interaction between the two militaries “has been postponed until the matter is resolved. Cooperation in other areas is continuing,” Ms. Payne said.

According to Indonesian media reports, the allegedly insulting paper displayed at the Special Forces base contained words that demeaned Pancasila, a set of vague principles that mandates belief in one God and unity among Indonesia’s 250 million people.

Australian army looking into it

Ms. Payne said Australia’s army “has looked into the serious concerns that were raised” and the investigation into the incident was being finalised.

Military ties between the two nations had been improving since 2013, after Indonesia downgraded its relations with Australia over the alleged bugging of phones belonging to Indonesia’s then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and members of his inner circle in 2009.