| ... though the separatists, militants are certainly concerned about Australians... |
Australia said on Tuesday it was satisfied Indonesia was providing adequate protection for its troops and aid workers in tsunami-ravaged Aceh, downplaying concerns about the separatist war and Islamic hardliners in the region. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Indonesian military and the government had assured him that everything would be done to protect Australians providing aid in the province, which bore the brunt of the Dec. 26 tsunamis. Australia's Labor opposition has raised concerns about the level of protection of Australian doctors and aid workers helping tsunami victims in Aceh."I know from the government's point of view we have invested a good deal of time and energy into assessing the security situation, and my view is that, first of all, that the security situation seems okay," Downer told ABC radio. "We think it's unlikely the Free Aceh Movement will start attacking aid workers and, secondly, we think it's also pretty unlikely that Islamic extremists, some of whom may have moved into the area with a view to providing assistance ... will turn on other people providing assistance."
