Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, who served as ambassador to Australia from 2012 to 2017 under Indonesian Presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, said the Australian government should “distance yourselves a bit” from the United States.
The comments from the recently-retired veteran diplomat underscore the deep disquiet in Jakarta over the proposal, which has led to suggestions the signing of the Indonesia-Australia free trade agreement could be delayed.
The Indonesian government has publicly dismissed that idea, so far, but with the presidential election in April next year that could change if the opposition, led by perennial presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, decides to use the issue to politically wedge Mr Widodo.
Mr Nadjib’s comments come after former prime Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison were publicly at odds over the issue this week, following Mr Turnbull’s critique of the proposal after his meeting with Mr Widodo in Bali.
The possible move of the embassy, he said, and diplomatic recognition of Jerusalem as the nation’s capital was a very difficult issue for Indonesians as the status of the Palestinian people, and state, was an issue most held dear to their heart.
Read the article by James Massola & David Crowe in WA Today.