We also asked the US Embassy in Jakarta to ask for some clarification from WashingtonJakarta (ANTARA News) - Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on behalf of the Indonesian people has lodged a strong protest with the US embassy against the report carried by Australian media accusing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of corruption and power abuse.
"In regard to the report carried by he two Australian media, I simply handed our strong protest against it to the United States envoy," said Marty at a press conference that was also attended by US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel.
Marty had invited Scot Marciel to the Foreign Ministry to receive the Indonesian government`s protest in relation to the Wikileaks information saying that the Indonesian President had intervened in a corruption investigation.
"We also asked the US Embassy in Jakarta to ask for some clarification from Washington," he said.
Meanwhile, Marciel said the US Embassy would not comment on the substance of the Wikileaks document which had cited the contents of cables sent to Washington DC by the US embassy in Jakarta.
"The State Department does not comment on the material including the document that had been leaked, but what can I do is to speak about the type of reporting my embassy does," Marciel said.
Moreover, he said, the US embassy would report information to Washington based on the bare facts.
"The reporting that the Embassy does to Washington is candid, absurd and raw information," he said.
He also said that the report to Washington would not affect the policy that would be taken due to the information.
Two Australian daily newspapers, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, on Friday reported in their headlines that President Yudhoyono had intervened in some political corruption cases. The reports tarnished the image of Indonesia which had transformed to be a good governance country.
"Indonesia is much transformed; and we have made efforts to combat corruption and to promote good governance. The report is very unacceptable not only for President Yudhoyono individually but also for most Indonesian people," Marty said.
Marciel also said the information was reckless and not to be published.
"This document should not be seen. This type of publication by Wikileaks is extremely irresponsible and we express our deepest regrets to President Yudhoyono and the Indonesian people," he said.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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