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| Bali Nine executions fallout: Australia juggles domestic fury and national interest | Bali Nine executions fallout: Australia juggles domestic fury and national interest |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop have used strong diplomatic retaliation, withdrawing Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, but rhetorical restraint to express their anger at the “cruel and unnecessary” executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. | Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop have used strong diplomatic retaliation, withdrawing Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, but rhetorical restraint to express their anger at the “cruel and unnecessary” executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. |
| The unsuccessful political and diplomatic effort to appeal to new Indonesian president Joko Widodo has been intense, increasingly desperate, often “creative” but always couched in careful language of respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty as hope remained that the president might grant clemency. | The unsuccessful political and diplomatic effort to appeal to new Indonesian president Joko Widodo has been intense, increasingly desperate, often “creative” but always couched in careful language of respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty as hope remained that the president might grant clemency. |
| On Tuesday Abbott and Bishop began to show their dismay at the “ghastly episode” and what Australian officials see as Indonesia’s dismissive attitude to their pleas, and the insensitive and heavy-handed treatment of the condemned men and their families. But they refused to “personalise” their anger with public comments about how Widodo had handled the matter. | On Tuesday Abbott and Bishop began to show their dismay at the “ghastly episode” and what Australian officials see as Indonesia’s dismissive attitude to their pleas, and the insensitive and heavy-handed treatment of the condemned men and their families. But they refused to “personalise” their anger with public comments about how Widodo had handled the matter. |
| Related: Indonesia murdered two Australians. The time for being polite is over | Gay Alcorn | Related: Indonesia murdered two Australians. The time for being polite is over | Gay Alcorn |
| They are now trying to balance the outpouring of domestic anger and the necessary strong diplomatic response with the long-term national interest of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. | They are now trying to balance the outpouring of domestic anger and the necessary strong diplomatic response with the long-term national interest of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. |
| Asked about the treatment by the Indonesian government of the men and, by extension, Australia, the prime minister said: “This is a very bad time. It’s a very bad time. Obviously for the Chan and Sukumaran families and it’s a difficult time for this relationship. | Asked about the treatment by the Indonesian government of the men and, by extension, Australia, the prime minister said: “This is a very bad time. It’s a very bad time. Obviously for the Chan and Sukumaran families and it’s a difficult time for this relationship. |
| “I don’t want to personalise it but obviously I do regret that while my representations have been listened to patiently and courteously, they have not been heeded.” | “I don’t want to personalise it but obviously I do regret that while my representations have been listened to patiently and courteously, they have not been heeded.” |
| Abbott said he understood the anger felt by many Australians over the death sentence, but underscored the importance of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. | Abbott said he understood the anger felt by many Australians over the death sentence, but underscored the importance of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia. |
| “I would say to people yes, you are absolutely entitled to be angry, but we’ve got to be very careful to ensure that we do not allow our anger to make a bad situation worse.” | “I would say to people yes, you are absolutely entitled to be angry, but we’ve got to be very careful to ensure that we do not allow our anger to make a bad situation worse.” |
| Australia has never before withdrawn an ambassador in response to the death sentence being carried out on a citizen. Abbott did not say how long the ambassador, Paul Grigson, would remain in Australia. He said ministerial visits to Indonesia would remain “suspended” for an unspecified period. | Australia has never before withdrawn an ambassador in response to the death sentence being carried out on a citizen. Abbott did not say how long the ambassador, Paul Grigson, would remain in Australia. He said ministerial visits to Indonesia would remain “suspended” for an unspecified period. |
| The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, and foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said in a statement that “as a close friend and neighbour of Indonesia, Australia is deeply hurt that our pleas for mercy were ignored”. | The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, and foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said in a statement that “as a close friend and neighbour of Indonesia, Australia is deeply hurt that our pleas for mercy were ignored”. |
| “It was completely unacceptable for Indonesia to proceed as it did when critical legal processes were yet to run their course, raising serious questions about Indonesia’s commitment to the rule of law,” they said. | “It was completely unacceptable for Indonesia to proceed as it did when critical legal processes were yet to run their course, raising serious questions about Indonesia’s commitment to the rule of law,” they said. |
| Most Indonesia observers believe the government did all it could to try to save the men’s lives. | Most Indonesia observers believe the government did all it could to try to save the men’s lives. |
| “With a few exceptions, the government has handled it well,” said Gregory Fealy, associate professor in Indonesian politics at the Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. “It has made an enormous effort, in fact it is hard to think of any other diplomatic effort to parallel this effort. | “With a few exceptions, the government has handled it well,” said Gregory Fealy, associate professor in Indonesian politics at the Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. “It has made an enormous effort, in fact it is hard to think of any other diplomatic effort to parallel this effort. |
| “Anyone with an office who might be able to make the case has been used so you can’t fault the government for the extent of its campaign.” | “Anyone with an office who might be able to make the case has been used so you can’t fault the government for the extent of its campaign.” |
| Fealy said a range of people with cultural, business and defence connections with the Indonesian political elite had been enlisted to advocate “on top of all the normal diplomatic efforts” from cabinet ministers, including the prime minister. | Fealy said a range of people with cultural, business and defence connections with the Indonesian political elite had been enlisted to advocate “on top of all the normal diplomatic efforts” from cabinet ministers, including the prime minister. |
| Andrew MacIntyre, deputy vice chancellor of RMIT university said “no stone has been left unturned ... they used official channels and unofficial ones ... personal informal relationships with senior people in the administration, business relationships, religious connections”. | Andrew MacIntyre, deputy vice chancellor of RMIT university said “no stone has been left unturned ... they used official channels and unofficial ones ... personal informal relationships with senior people in the administration, business relationships, religious connections”. |
| The one exception was Abbott’s remark when he urged Indonesia to “reciprocate” for Australian aid by sparing the lives of Chan and Sukumaran. | The one exception was Abbott’s remark when he urged Indonesia to “reciprocate” for Australian aid by sparing the lives of Chan and Sukumaran. |
| At the time, Indonesia said it would not respond to threats and rebuked the prime minister, saying such threats were not part of “diplomatic language”. | At the time, Indonesia said it would not respond to threats and rebuked the prime minister, saying such threats were not part of “diplomatic language”. |
| Fealy said the incident was a “glaring example” of the backlash that can occur as a result of a few frustrated remarks. | Fealy said the incident was a “glaring example” of the backlash that can occur as a result of a few frustrated remarks. |
| “One or two frustrating remarks can produce an entirely counterproductive response. But it was just one element. Given the cumulative public disapproval on this subject, it is tempting for politicians to give voice to that. It is a delicate position for politicians who want to reflect the public mind. But I don’t think anything has been left unturned,” he said. | “One or two frustrating remarks can produce an entirely counterproductive response. But it was just one element. Given the cumulative public disapproval on this subject, it is tempting for politicians to give voice to that. It is a delicate position for politicians who want to reflect the public mind. But I don’t think anything has been left unturned,” he said. |
| The stonily dismissive response from Indonesia – including Widodo’s refusal to take phone calls from Abbott since early March and senior officials not responding, or responding slowly, to calls or letters – was a sign of the “very big shift” in the bilateral relationship since the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said professor Tim Lindsey, the director of the centre of Indonesian Law, Islam and Society at the University of Melbourne. | The stonily dismissive response from Indonesia – including Widodo’s refusal to take phone calls from Abbott since early March and senior officials not responding, or responding slowly, to calls or letters – was a sign of the “very big shift” in the bilateral relationship since the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said professor Tim Lindsey, the director of the centre of Indonesian Law, Islam and Society at the University of Melbourne. |
| “The fact that Indonesia for a long time refused to even acknowledge that there was a double standard in their insistence that Australia was infringing their sovereignty by appealing for clemency, while at the same time appealing for clemency for its own citizens facing the death penalty in other countries, that has been really quite damaging from Australia’s point of view,” he said. | “The fact that Indonesia for a long time refused to even acknowledge that there was a double standard in their insistence that Australia was infringing their sovereignty by appealing for clemency, while at the same time appealing for clemency for its own citizens facing the death penalty in other countries, that has been really quite damaging from Australia’s point of view,” he said. |
| “There were ups and downs during the SBY years but this is a very big shift, and it is a shift that has had a big impact in Australia.” | “There were ups and downs during the SBY years but this is a very big shift, and it is a shift that has had a big impact in Australia.” |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs registered a formal complaint about the excessive security surrounding the transfer of the men to Nusa Kambangan and the happy snaps of senior commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo with the men as they flew to the execution island – but that diplomatic language did not begin to express the extent of Canberra’s fury, which built as the undignified treatment continued in the days leading up the executions. | The Department of Foreign Affairs registered a formal complaint about the excessive security surrounding the transfer of the men to Nusa Kambangan and the happy snaps of senior commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo with the men as they flew to the execution island – but that diplomatic language did not begin to express the extent of Canberra’s fury, which built as the undignified treatment continued in the days leading up the executions. |
| But despite all the restraint, and all the pleas, nothing would sway Widodo – who is plummeting in the polls, desperate to be seen by his own domestic audience as strong in the face of foreign pressure and himself under pressure from party chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri. | But despite all the restraint, and all the pleas, nothing would sway Widodo – who is plummeting in the polls, desperate to be seen by his own domestic audience as strong in the face of foreign pressure and himself under pressure from party chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri. |
| Now the task for the government is to manage the public and political reaction. Attention will return to the role of the Australian federal police (AFP) in alerting Indonesian police before the arrests of the Bali Nine in 2005. | Now the task for the government is to manage the public and political reaction. Attention will return to the role of the Australian federal police (AFP) in alerting Indonesian police before the arrests of the Bali Nine in 2005. |
| Bishop said the government was satisfied with steps that had been taken after a formal review of the AFP’s actions. | Bishop said the government was satisfied with steps that had been taken after a formal review of the AFP’s actions. |
| Grassroots movements to boycott Indonesian tourist spots and products are growing. | Grassroots movements to boycott Indonesian tourist spots and products are growing. |
| A former senior diplomat to Indonesia, John McCarthy, said the Abbott government had no choice but to react with “uncompromising displeasure”. Writing before the announcement that Australia was withdrawing its ambassador, he predicted the executions would affect Australians’ perceptions of Widodo for the rest of his tenure, but warned against such a step. | A former senior diplomat to Indonesia, John McCarthy, said the Abbott government had no choice but to react with “uncompromising displeasure”. Writing before the announcement that Australia was withdrawing its ambassador, he predicted the executions would affect Australians’ perceptions of Widodo for the rest of his tenure, but warned against such a step. |
| “Indonesia dismissed our representations and we have no choice but to react with uncompromising displeasure. We should withhold bilateral visits by ministers while the foreshadowed executions continue or for the rest of the year,” McCarthy wrote for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. | “Indonesia dismissed our representations and we have no choice but to react with uncompromising displeasure. We should withhold bilateral visits by ministers while the foreshadowed executions continue or for the rest of the year,” McCarthy wrote for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. |
| “We cannot have high-level business as usual. | “We cannot have high-level business as usual. |
| “We should not compromise our own interests to the extent of jeopardising the web of civilian and military exchanges that are at the heart of the relationship, or cut our aid program – intended to improve the lives of ordinary Indonesians. We should keep our ambassador in Jakarta. Communication matters.” | “We should not compromise our own interests to the extent of jeopardising the web of civilian and military exchanges that are at the heart of the relationship, or cut our aid program – intended to improve the lives of ordinary Indonesians. We should keep our ambassador in Jakarta. Communication matters.” |
| Fealy said criticism of Indonesia should stick to legalities and flaws in the judicial process. | Fealy said criticism of Indonesia should stick to legalities and flaws in the judicial process. |
| “We could see a really strongly critical statement from Abbott government, which points to serious flaws in judicial process and the failure of the Indonesian government and the president to properly consider the clemency cases,” Fealy said. | “We could see a really strongly critical statement from Abbott government, which points to serious flaws in judicial process and the failure of the Indonesian government and the president to properly consider the clemency cases,” Fealy said. |
| He warned a decision to withdraw the ambassador could harm Australia’s longer term goals. | He warned a decision to withdraw the ambassador could harm Australia’s longer term goals. |
| Related: Bali Nine: decade of turmoil for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran nears a gruesome end | Related: Bali Nine: decade of turmoil for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran nears a gruesome end |
| “Bilateral issues could be impacted as a result so the government would need to weigh up what the consequences would be for Australia. We have already seen the impact of Tony Abbott attempting to use aid and that backfired. If your objective is to take the death penalty off the books, arousing Indonesian hostility is not the way to go.” | “Bilateral issues could be impacted as a result so the government would need to weigh up what the consequences would be for Australia. We have already seen the impact of Tony Abbott attempting to use aid and that backfired. If your objective is to take the death penalty off the books, arousing Indonesian hostility is not the way to go.” |
| Chan and Sukumaran were arrested on 17 April 2005 by Indonesian police with seven others attempting to smuggle heroin out of Bali. Four months later, the AFP confirmed they had tipped off the Indonesians after the father of one of the drug couriers, Scott Rush, shared his fears of his son’s involvement. Early in 2006, Chan and Sukumaran – as the convicted ringleaders – were sentenced to death. The remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment. | Chan and Sukumaran were arrested on 17 April 2005 by Indonesian police with seven others attempting to smuggle heroin out of Bali. Four months later, the AFP confirmed they had tipped off the Indonesians after the father of one of the drug couriers, Scott Rush, shared his fears of his son’s involvement. Early in 2006, Chan and Sukumaran – as the convicted ringleaders – were sentenced to death. The remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment. |
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