Transcript of Replies to Questions in Parliament by SMS Zainul Abidin Rasheed, 21 May 2007

QUESTIONS:

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs what are the implications of the extradition treaty signed with Indonesia and whether it will strengthen bilateral ties.

Ms Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will explain the issues taken into consideration in the signing of the extradition treaty and defence cooperation agreement with Indonesia

REPLY:

Mr Speaker Sir,

I am replying on behalf of Minister George Yeo who is overseas. I will be addressing the Parliamentary Questions submitted by Ms Irene Ng and Ms Lee Bee Wah together.

The signing of the Extradition Treaty (ET) and the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) last month was in line with the decision taken by PM Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in October 2005 to negotiate both the ET and DCA in parallel and conclude them as a package.

Since October 2005, there were several rounds of negotiations on the ET and DCA. Officials on both sides worked hard and made progress. Given that both agreements involve many complex issues, significant give-and-take was required on both sides. On 23 April 2007, the Foreign and Defence Ministers, as well as armed forces chiefs, from both sides met to discuss the outstanding issues in Singapore. In a spirit of compromise and friendship, both sides sorted out their differing positions vis-à-vis the various issues and reached agreement on the ET and DCA as a political package. This means that the two signed Agreements contained a carefully negotiated balance of benefits. These agreements are good for both countries. Now that they have been signed, the next step is for both agreements to be ratified by Singapore and Indonesia through our own procedures. As they are a package, we have agreed that they should come into force together.

Indonesia is a close neighbour. Our relations are extensive and broad-based. It is therefore in our interest to find opportunities to work with them where we can. The ET and DCA will help lay a strong foundation for further cooperation in the future. The ET will strengthen our cooperation with Indonesia in tackling crime and other offences including acts of terrorism in accordance with the domestic laws of each country. Similarly, we would like to enhance the enduring defence ties between the SAF and the Indonesian Armed Forces (or TNI) and strengthen the professional bonds and interoperability of the two militaries through the DCA.

When these agreements come into force, relations between Singapore and Indonesia will enter a new phase. But this does not mean that there will be no more bilateral issues. Indeed, signing an ET has removed a bone of contention in bilateral relations but it may also create other problems. For example, there are legal procedures and judicial processes which have to be followed when an extradition request is made. Indonesia's police and judicial processes will be subject to review by our judges and vice versa. It is therefore important that both sides understand this and allow the due process of law in each country to take its course.

Mr Speaker Sir,

It is natural that differences in bilateral relations will arise from time to time between close neighbours. We can resolve them together, as long as we take the right perspective against the overall relationship. This should also not stop us from finding ways to resolve these differences or explore new areas of cooperation on a "win-win" basis. The ET and DCA are good examples of how our countries were able to tackle difficult issues and find mutually beneficial solutions. I am therefore confident that Singapore-Indonesia relations will continue to mature and deepen.

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