REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian government should protest against the Australian government by expelling their diplomats related to the immigration affairs office at the Australian Embassy, an analyst of international relations from the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana, said.

"If it is proven that the Australian naval pushed back the asylum seekers to the waters of Indonesia, then the government should strongly protest by declaring the Australian diplomats as persona non grata," Hikmahanto Juwana noted, on Friday. 

Hikmahanto pointed out Indonesia had recalled its ambassador after the wiretapping incident conducted by the Australian intelligence officers came to light. Now, as a mark of strong protest, their diplomats related to immigration affairs should be expelled from Indonesia.

According to Hikmahanto, Indonesia and Australia had been communicating with each other through their foreign ministers. Indonesia has filed a protest against Australias boat turn-back policy that entails turning the asylum seekers back into Indonesian waters.

"However, Australia still continues to follow the policy. It is a unilateral policy of Australia and Indonesia has not been taken into confidence before its implementation. This can be referred as a violation of Indonesias sovereignty and infringes upon the human rights of the asylum seekers," he claimed.

In addition, Hikmahanto also encouraged the government to take up this issue at the United Nation (UN), either through the Human Rights Council or the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Previously, on Wednesday, (Jan. 15), the Sidney Morning Herald published that the Australian navy had pushed back a boat containing asylum seekers into the Indonesian waters. It was the third reported instance conducted by the Australian navy. The Indonesian navy confirmed that the two boats carrying asylum seekers had been previously driven away by the Australian navy on December 19, 2013 and January 6, 2014, respectively.

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