Australian PM Tony Abbott says he will be “grieviously let down” if Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are executed. PHOTO: AFP
Indonesia is not taking so well to “threats” from Australia to back off on executing Australian nationals Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.
Comments made by Australian PM Tony Abbott earlier today linking previous tsunami aid to the forthcoming Bali Nine executions have Indonesia lashing back.
“No one responds well to threats,” said Indonesia’s foreign ministry, as quoted by Reuters. Abbott said he will be “grievously let down” if the executions go through and insinuated that Indonesia owes Australia this one for the $1 billion in aid given in response to the 2004 tsunami.
“I hope the statement made does not reflect the true colors of Australians,” said Armanatha Nasir, a spokesman for the foreign ministry. ” … Threats are not part of diplomatic language and no one responds well to threats.”
But Nasir didn’t stop chiding Australia for its diplomacy there: ”But I would like just to remind Australia that bilateral relationships, in my understanding, cut two ways,” he said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. “It is difficult for Indonesia to see that any fallout in the bilateral relationship would only affect one country.”
