JANA WENDT: We shouldn't forget this weekend that it wasn't just Australians who died in the Bali bombings. Many other nations suffered loss, not least the Balinese themselves. Indonesia's Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been in Australia this week. He spoke to Sunday about the controversial decision by President Megawati Soekarnoputri not to attend today's memorial, and what the first anniversary means to Indonesians…..

Transcript

JANA WENDT: Bambang Yudhoyono, thank you for joining Sunday. How do most Indonesians think about what happened in Bali a year ago?

MINISTER: Well, of course we were very shocked at the time, and we agreed that the time has come that we have to be more united in fighting against terrorisms. Because terrorism is in our yard now, and the only solution is to fight against them.

JANA WENDT: So are the bombings seen as a national tragedy for Indonesia?

MINISTER: Yes, indeed. Even though it's not stated officially as a national tragedy. But for Indonesia, it is giving a wake up call that the real danger - real trap of international character is terrorism. And of course we express our condolences to the victims of the Bali bombing, including some Australians.

JANA WENDT: Given what you've just said, why won't your President be present at the commemoration of that event?

MINISTER: The most important is we respect the commemorations to be held in Bali. We welcome that such commemoration including the coming of the family of the victims. And I think it will be wiser if we do not debate on who will attend and who will not attend in the ceremony.

JANA WENDT: But do you agree that it sends a troubling message to Australians that your head of state wont be there to commemorate the event?

MINISTER: Minister of Foreign Affairs, and also the Governor of Bali, have explained both to the press a couple of days ago that President Megawati has to listen to the recommendation from the Governor of Bali that actually commemorating that is not a belief shared by Balinese.
So again our presence on behalf of the Indonesian Government, and on behalf of Madame President, to accompany Prime Minister Howard, symbolizing that Indonesian Government, Indonesian people also respect the activities done by our brothers and sisters from Australia.

JANA WENDT: But Bali's Governor has said that it's not against Bali's religion for people to attend a commemoration out of respect for other cultures.

MINISTER: That's why we're also present in the ceremony. And the Chief of the Indonesian Police General Da'i Bachtiar and myself, we are also present with the Prime Minister Howard and other attendants in the ceremony.

JANA WENDT: Let me ask you a blunt question. Do you believe that it would offend some Indonesians to see President Megawati next to Prime Minister Howard, remembering the victims of Moslem extremists?

MINISTER: Well, once again I will not enter that kind of speculation and debate, but I'd like to express my ideas and my view, and the stance of the Indonesian people and Government, that once again, without debating who will be present and who will not be present, why don't we just go to succeed, this kind of ceremony.

JANA WENDT: One of the criticisms that's made of you is that you acknowledge there's a problem with terrorism when you're speaking outside of the country, but that you don't say those kinds of things at home.

MINISTER: I did make statement many times, and I keep telling to my people in Indonesia in many forums, in many occasions, that we are facing the threat of terrorisms, and the terrorisms has also domestic cells in Indonesia, and we have to fight it, and of course we have to help with co-operations with neighboring countries, with international friends, to deter and prevent terrorism, and defeat it. So it is not true that we, the Indonesian officials, speak only when we are abroad, and never speak inside the country.

JANA WENDT: Well, have you spoken with those Moslem clerics who doubt that you have a problem with terrorism, and laid out the evidence that you have?

MINISTER: You cannot read from one statement made by one religious leader to be a general perception and opinion among our religious figures in Indonesia. I have communicated to them many times again and again, and actually the environment is getting better and better. We agree that combating terrorism - combating terrorism should not be connected to religion, to ethnicity, and other items of this.

JANA WENDT: Just returning to the President, how should Australians interpret her absence at the commemoration.

MINISTER: Well, I don't want to enter that kind of point. I have explained already. And of course my talk with Prime Minister Howard, Minister Downer, Minister Hill, Attorney- General Ruddock - we agreed to understand to each other, but we are committed to strengthening our co-operation and dealing with international crimes, including terrorism.

JANA WENDT: Bambang Yudhoyono, I thank you very much for your time.

MINISTER: You're welcome.