The proposed security treaty between Australia and Indonesia must not stifle human rights discourse nor involve Australia in suppressing Indonesian independence movements, according to the Australian Democrats.
"In particular, terms paving the way for non-intervention in the event of human rights abuses by the Indonesian Government should not be included in any such agreement," Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"Preventing terrorist attacks through military and intelligence co-operation may appear positive, but the ongoing disregard for human rights by the Indonesian military may seriously compromise such aims.
"Implicit in Australia's humanitarian obligation to assist the people of Indonesia, is the obligation to assist them against human rights abuses as it did in the former East Timor.
"The possibility that Australia could also become linked, through co-operation arising from this treaty, to violent suppression of independence movements in provinces such as West Papua and Aceh is of grave concern.
"This agreement must be closely inspected for obligations on Australia that may give Indonesia carte blanche to commit violence against those within its borders while our government stands idly by," Senator Stott Despoja said.
