Australia: Parliamentary Committee considers security cooperation treaty with Indonesia

A Parliamentary Committee is now reviewing the Lombok Agreement, a security treaty signed in November 2006 between Australia and Indonesia. Among other human rights organisations, the Australian Section of the ICJ made a submission before the Committee expressing concern about the use of the word “terrorism” in the treaty, in the absence of an agreement on a clear definition. As a result, ICJ Australia recommends the withdrawal of the treaty. The Committee is due to report to the Parliament on this agreement in mid-June.