Indonesia halts military cooperation with Australia over West Papua independence poster

ADF chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin wrote to his Indonesian counterpart about the offending material.

The ABC has confirmed an Indonesian officer complained about the "insulting" training posters at the SAS headquarters in Perth in November last year, prompting Australian Defence leaders to launch furious efforts to try to smooth relations with their counterparts in Jakarta.

An Indonesian military spokesman told the ABC cooperation between Indonesia and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) had been suspended effective immediately. Indonesian Special Forces group Kopassus trains with the Special Air Service at the unit's Campbell Barracks.

Major General Wuryanto would not confirm the reason for the suspension, saying it was for technical matters, and that there were "ups and downs in every cooperation between two national forces".

Sources familiar with the incident have confirmed the "laminated material" concerned West Papua, which is an Indonesian province that has tried to seek independence from Jakarta.

Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed the complaints concerned "some teaching materials and remarks" at an Army language training facility in Australia, and that some military cooperation with Indonesia was now on hold. "Indonesia has informed Australia that defence cooperation would be suspended,"

Senator Payne said in a statement. "As a result, some interaction between the two Defence organizations has been postponed until the matter is resolved. Cooperation in other areas is continuing."

The Defence Minister said Australia was committed "to building a strong Defence relationship with Indonesia" and would "work with Indonesia to restore full cooperation as soon as possible".

The ABC has learned that on November 23 last year, ADF chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin wrote to his Indonesian counterpart about the offending material.

A diplomatic source familiar with the correspondence said the Defence chief's letter reassured the Indonesian military that the offensive material displayed in Perth did not reflect the view of Australia's Defence Force, and was an isolated incident.

Australia's Chief of Army Lieutenant General Angus Campbell also wrote to his Indonesian counterpart on November 24 to reassure him that Australia did not endorse the material.

The Defence Force is yet to respond to questions from the ABC, but senior figures have expressed surprise at the comments from Indonesia's military.

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