Jakarta sees demonstration over Australia spying

Indonesians have demonstrated in Jakarta to show their anger over reports that Australia’s spies tried to tap the phones of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his inner circle.

On Thursday, the protesters gathered outside the Australian Embassy in the capital, demanding an immediate apology from Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“We are the people of Indonesia; we have the right to defend our country. The government of Australia should immediately apologize to the people of Indonesia,” said a protest leader.

The protesters, led by a nationalist group called “The Red and White Front, burned Australian flags in a show of anger.

Chanting and singing the Indonesian national anthem, they demanded their government increase its military budget so it can have better security against phone-tapping.

They called on the people of Indonesia to “fight Australia” in the wake of the espionage revelations.

“We’re ready for war with Australia,” read one of the banners waved by the demonstrators.

New revelations by American whistleblower Edward Snowden showed that the Australian spy agencies targeted the mobile phones of President Yudhoyono, his wife and senior ministers and confidants.

The Indonesian envoy was recalled on Monday President Yudhoyono on Wednesday ordered cooperation suspended in several areas, including on people-smuggling, military exercises and sharing intelligence.

The documents leaked by Snowden to media showed that Australia’s Defense Signals Directorate (DSD) tracked the Indonesian president’s activities on his mobile phone for 15 days in August 2009.

Reports also revealed earlier this month that the United States and Australia launched joint spying operations against Indonesia during the 2007 UN Climate Change Conference in Bali.

According to earlier reports, Australia’s overseas diplomatic posts, including the embassy in Jakarta, have also been involved in a vast US-led surveillance network spanning the globe.

Recent Snowden leaks have sparked global outrage. The documents detailed vast intelligence collection by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on 35 world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany and Brazil are currently spearheading efforts to draft a United Nations General Assembly resolution to restrain the espionage activities directed against foreign leaders.

Snowden was granted political asylum in Russia on August 1 and has been charged in the United States with espionage and theft of government property.