Representatives meeting to discuss South-East Asia’s migrant crisis may learn from the previous refugee crisis that hit the region during the Indochina war.
These Rohingya women and children, rescued by fishermen in Aceh, are among thousands in need of resettlement.
EPA
A summit in Bangkok is discussing the fate of thousands of people who were stranded at sea. Australia is represented but refuses to resettle any refugees, casting doubt on its commitment to a regional solution.
A boat carrying 450 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh is inspected by Thai Navy officers in the Andaman Sea.
EPA/Royal Thai Navy
The political rhetoric would suggest that asylum seekers are deserving and economic migrants are undeserving. Yet their motivations overlap and are complex – forced migrants do not fit easily into one category.
Under enormous pressure, countries in south east Asia are at last offering help to thousands of stranded migrants – but their gesture is far less meaningful than it seems.
The image of West Papua have always been framed by outsiders.
Byelikova Oksana / Shutterstock.com
Australia has cut aid to Indonesia by 40%. That may cause diplomatic displeasure, but the country has restructured its development programs in recent years to be less dependent on foreign money.
A Filipino soldier patrols the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The US is considering sending aircrafts and warships to patrol the disputed area, which is claimed by China and four other Southeast Asian countries.
EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO / POOL
The US is considering naval patrols of disputed parts of the South China Sea in response to China’s creation of artificial islands. Other nations with claims may welcome a temporary US presence.
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar travelled in this fishing boat to Sumatra, Indonesia, with officials announcing some 2000 people were rounded up or rescued after arriving in Malaysia and Indonesia over the weekend.
EPA
Australia may have ‘stopped the boats’ but the tragedy of people drowning at sea continues to our north and is getting worse. A regional solution to the refugee crisis is urgently needed.
Despite global protests, the executions will not harm Indonesia’s position in international bodies and its co-operation with other countries.
EPA/AGUS SUPARTO
Despite global protests, the executions will not harm Indonesia’s position in international bodies and its co-operation with other countries.
Australia’s appeal to spare reformed Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran failed in the face of Indonesia’s retributive justice system.
EPA/MAST IRHAM
Giri Ahmad Taufik, Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK)
In spite of vigorous appeals from Australia for Indonesia to spare the lives of Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, most Indonesians were not persuaded. Chan and Sukumaran were executed last week…
In the 1980s, opposition to the death penalty imposed on political prisoners in Indonesia united Indonesians and citizens of countries around the world.
from BOONROONG/www.shutterstock.com
While recent executions by Indonesia have captured the world’s attention, this year is also the 30th anniversary of the execution of political prisoners that first created global concern.
Feelings are running high in Australia.
EPA/Dan Himbrechts
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan discuss the week in politics.
Indonesians are sensitive about issues of respect for their nation and its sovereignty, as protests at Tony Abbott’s linking of aid with calls for clemency showed.
EPA/Bagus Indahono
Indonesians have long felt that Australia lacks respect for their nation’s sovereignty, but Indonesia’s status as a rising power adds to the urgency of recalibrating our approach to the relationship.
Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott greets Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo during the 2014 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane.
AAP/Steve Christo
Since Tony Abbott became prime minister, three issues have strained relations with Indonesia. Before the fracture over the fate of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, there were difficulties from the Coalition’s tow-back policy and a major crisis after revelations of Australian spying.
More people will die under an imperfect judicial system if Indonesia does not learn from its mistake.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The executions in Indonesia were a mistake. Eight people are dead, including Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, despite alleged violations in the judicial process.
Bali Nine member Scott Rush’s father alerted the AFP to his son’s plans in the hope they would stop him from travelling to Indonesia.
AAP/Made Nagi
The AFP revised the guidelines on international co-operation since alerting Indonesia to the Bali Nine but there is arguably still an imbalance between security and human rights considerations.
The relationship with Indonesia is more important than the protest over two dead drug traffickers and Australians need their ambassador in Jakarta.
AAP/Oscar Siagian