ID :
24157
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 16:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24157
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RI STUDENTS IN A`LIA CRITICIZE RECENT HOUSE DELEGATION VISIT
Canberra, Oct 13 (ANTARA) - Student activists here have criticized a recent "comparative study" visit to Australia by a group of Indonesian lawmakers, saying it was ineffective because it had not been prepared properly and lacked a clear agenda.
The chairman of the Indonesian Students Association in Australia (PPIA) at Flinders University, Ariatna, and the chairman of the academic section of PPIA at Queensland University, Hidayat Amir, were commenting on a visit to Canberra by a delegation of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Special Committee on the Export Financing Institute Bill last week.
The delegation which also included House Secretariat staffers should have come to Australia after making proper preparations and with a clear agenda "the more so because they came at a time when the majority of the Indonesian people are suffering acute poverty and under constant threat of the impact of the global crisis," he said.
Amir said the House delegation should not have come to Australia if it had intended just to fulfill a formality or make an overseas trip with wives and children.
"Their visit to Australia was nothing more than an excursion because they came with their wives and children," said Ariatna, a post-graduate student at Flinders University.
He said every official visit by a delegation of state officials, including legislators, should have something to do with the people's interest at home.
"It was nothing more than a trip for pleasure because they said they came to Australia for a comparative study but with their wives and children," Ariatna said in a sarcastic tone.
He said the visit by the 22-member House delegation to Canberra and Sydney from October 8-11 was ineffective because they failed to meet with their dialog partners in the Australian Parliament.
According to Ariatna, the Indonesian legislators were finally received by an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official because their visit coincided with the Australian Parliament's recess.
Meanwhile, Hidayat Amir said it was time for Indonesian legislators to make optimum use of the available information and communication technology channels at home when they need to study the operations of parliaments of other countries rather than make wasteful visits to those countries.
"If the information they want to get from the comparative study can be acquired from the internet, or through correspondence, the legislators don't have to visit Australia," Hidayat said.
The chairman of the Indonesian Students Association in Australia (PPIA) at Flinders University, Ariatna, and the chairman of the academic section of PPIA at Queensland University, Hidayat Amir, were commenting on a visit to Canberra by a delegation of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Special Committee on the Export Financing Institute Bill last week.
The delegation which also included House Secretariat staffers should have come to Australia after making proper preparations and with a clear agenda "the more so because they came at a time when the majority of the Indonesian people are suffering acute poverty and under constant threat of the impact of the global crisis," he said.
Amir said the House delegation should not have come to Australia if it had intended just to fulfill a formality or make an overseas trip with wives and children.
"Their visit to Australia was nothing more than an excursion because they came with their wives and children," said Ariatna, a post-graduate student at Flinders University.
He said every official visit by a delegation of state officials, including legislators, should have something to do with the people's interest at home.
"It was nothing more than a trip for pleasure because they said they came to Australia for a comparative study but with their wives and children," Ariatna said in a sarcastic tone.
He said the visit by the 22-member House delegation to Canberra and Sydney from October 8-11 was ineffective because they failed to meet with their dialog partners in the Australian Parliament.
According to Ariatna, the Indonesian legislators were finally received by an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official because their visit coincided with the Australian Parliament's recess.
Meanwhile, Hidayat Amir said it was time for Indonesian legislators to make optimum use of the available information and communication technology channels at home when they need to study the operations of parliaments of other countries rather than make wasteful visits to those countries.
"If the information they want to get from the comparative study can be acquired from the internet, or through correspondence, the legislators don't have to visit Australia," Hidayat said.
