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After 30 years, Singapore is finally willing to negotiate an extradition treaty with Indonesia. But there are still many misunderstandings.
On a cloudy Wednesday last week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) could not conceal his displeasure. His face was red. His usually calm voice became sharp and penetrating. "I was surprised that some had spread hearsay, saying that I went to Singapore to sign an extradition treaty."
He swallowed after making the statement. Reporters at the press conference held in Singapore last week were surprised. The president usually has a vibrant deportment. It was as if the president's exhilaration after successfully convincing Singapore to sit down to discuss the possibility of an extradition treaty had vanished, just as he was about to return home.
President Yudhoyono's discontent began last week with inaccurate news reports regarding an extradition treaty between the governments of Singapore and Indonesia. A number of politicians back home had denounced the Yudhoyono administration for failing to get Singapore to sign a treaty. "I want to correct those irresponsible parties who made it look like I said that my visit to Singapore was to sign an extradition treaty--something which I never said at any place or time," he said in a shrill tone.
Last week there was a flood of denouncements made against Singapore and the Yudhoyono administration. A number of members from the Indonesian legislative branch's Commission on Defense and Security made pressing demands that military training cooperation with Singapore be ended if that nation was reluctant to sign an extradition treaty. "If Lee (Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong) does not want to sign an extradition treaty, go ahead and cut relations with Singapore," said Permadi, a member of the Defense Commission from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
President Yudhoyono said that the strong comments in the media had disrupted the negotiation process. To Tempo , a Singaporean diplomat complained about this very issue. "'Megaphone diplomacy' often disrupts negotiations," said the source.
What really happened was nothing at all like the rumors which were spread. Singapore and Indonesia have only just agreed to discuss the issue of an extradition treaty. This means that there is still a long way to go until a treaty can become reality.
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