Jakarta--Indonesia's vice president warned Monday that paying people-smugglers would amount to "bribery" after Australia was accused of handing out money to turn back a boatload of asylum-seekers.
Allegations that the captain and five crew of a boat, carrying migrants from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, were each paid US$5,000 by an Australian immigration official to turn back to Indonesia were made to police on Rote island in the country's east last week.
Tensions between Jakarta and Canberra -- already high after the recent execution of two Australians in Indonesia -- are escalating after Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to deny the allegations, prompting demands from Jakarta for an explanation.
Indonesia has previously expressed disapproval at the tough immigration policy implemented by Abbott's conservative coalition after it came to power in 2013. This includes turning back boats, mostly to Indonesia, when it is safe to do so.
Abbott is also under pressure at home, with the opposition Labor Party asking the auditor-general to investigate and the Greens party referring the matter to the police.
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla stepped up the pressure, saying that if such a payment had been made, it would be a "form of bribery".
"It is a mistake committed not only by the people who bribe others but also by the state. That act is against the code of ethics in state relations," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Antara news agency.
However he added that Indonesia wanted to confirm whether the allegations were true before taking any action.
Earlier Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop suggested that Indonesia was to blame for failing to properly manage its borders, prompting an angry response from her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi.
Marsudi, who had demanded answers from Australia's ambassador about the issue at the weekend, accused Canberra of "diverting the issue", adding: "It isn't difficult for Australia to respond to my question... about the payment issue."
AFP
