简体中文
Immigration Minister of Australia Scott Morrison said Friday that the Australian government has apologized to Indonesia after Australian vessels under the border protection policy had "inadvertently" breached Indonesian territorial waters "on several occasions".
Speaking at a news conference in Canberra, Morrison said the government received information on Wednesday afternoon that " border protection command assets had in the conduct of maritime operations associated with Operation Sovereign Borders inadvertently entered Indonesian territorial waters on several occasions".
"This was done unintentionally and without knowledge or sanction by the Australian government," he said.
Operation Sovereign Borders is the strategy adopted by the Liberal-National government to stop the maritime arrivals by asylum seekers to Australia. In most cases, Indonesia is a transit point for the asylum seekers.
He said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop apologized to her Indonesian counterpart Marty Natelegawa on Thursday. However, as the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported, Natalegawa was traveling and unable to receive the message personally.
Morrison said the apology was sent and that a more formal apology will be provided to the Indonesian government via the Australian Embassy in Indonesia.
He said Australia's Chief of Navy, Admiral Griggs, had also phoned his counterpart in Indonesia late Thursday to "provide an explanation".
Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, said at the same press conference that he was advised of the breach Wednesday afternoon after a routine report was examined by a border command official.
He said Navy personnel did not know they had breached Indonesian waters at the time.
"I and I am sure all those involved in the conduct of Operation Sovereign Borders regret any affront to Indonesia these events may have occurred," he said.
The details of the incursions, including which vessels were involved and when the events occurred, are being reviewed by the Chief of the Defence Force David Hurley and Australian Customs and Border Protection Command.
Steps had been taken to ensure such breaches would not occur again, Morrison said.
This has been a latest blow to Australian-Indonesian relations after claims emerged a few months ago that Australian intelligence officers tapped the mobile phone of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife and senior government members.
