# Australie buigt niet voor Indonesie

**URL:** <https://forum.wereldwijzer.nl/t/australie-buigt-niet-voor-indonesie/19783>\
**Category:** Nieuws uit Australië\
**Created:** [30 maart 2006 om 17:15 UTC](https://forum.wereldwijzer.nl/t/australie-buigt-niet-voor-indonesie/19783 "2006-03-30T17:15:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@system](https://forum.wereldwijzer.nl/u/system)\
**Post date:** [30 maart 2006 om 17:15 UTC](https://forum.wereldwijzer.nl/t/australie-buigt-niet-voor-indonesie/19783/1 "2006-03-30T17:15:41Z")

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PM: We won’t bend to Indonesia

March 31, 2006  
**PRIME Minister John Howard yesterday conceded the Papua visas row has strained relations with Indonesia, but says Australia will not bend to satisfy its neighbour.**

He appealed to Indonesia to respect Australian law in the matter of the granting of visas to 42 Papuan asylum seekers. Indonesian nationalists say Canberra is plotting the province’s breakaway from Jakarta.  
Mr Howard reminded Indonesia of Australia’s goodwill, especially the massive humanitarian commitment following the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami.  
He said the decision to grant the visas would not change. “This incident has put a strain on the relationship,” he said.  
"Terms such as crisis, massive problem, are exaggeration.

“This country has great goodwill toward Indonesia but we have our own dignity as does Indonesia,” said.  
“We have our rules and we can’t and won’t bend the rules for any other country.” Mr Howard did not believe the incident would cause “fundamental, lasting damage” to our relationship with Indonesia.