REGIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN ASYMMETRIC COUNTRIES: EXAMPLE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND INDONESIA ON ASYLUM SEEKERS' MANDATORY DETENTION AND ITS IMPLICATION

GEORGIJEV, BOJAN, ROCHDI MOHAN NAZALA, MSA, M.LITT

2015 | Tesis | S2 Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

This thesis discusses the bilateral cooperation between two asymmetric countries, Australia and Indonesia, on mandatory detention of asylum seekers on Indonesian territories. The main goal of this research was to illuminate the role of Indonesian government in relation to Australian domestic immigration policies. Since the very beginning of their bilateral cooperation both countries have found it difficult to create a trustworthy and cooperative relationship primarily due to a number of socio-economic, political and cultural differences. Despite these differences the bilateral cooperation has improved significantly in a number of areas particularly during the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The bilateral cooperation on Australia's domestic policy of asylum seekers' mandatory offshore detention; this policy serves to deter asylum seekers from reaching Australian territories where they would be able to seek asylum in a country which has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Australia has however succeeded to deter asylum seekers in Indonesia's detention centres, and Indonesia has benefited from cooperating with Australia to stop and deter asylum seekers on its territories. Such cooperation is questionable as it does not respect many international laws. Australia is perceived as a country with a long history of democracy and the rule of law, it is economically developed and of the most developed countries that has also signed the international treaties on human rights. On the other side, Indonesia is a young democracy and developing country rich in natural resources and with population of some 250 million spread around vast archipelago that has only recently established itself as a democratic country.

This thesis discusses the bilateral cooperation between two asymmetric countries, Australia and Indonesia, on mandatory detention of asylum seekers on Indonesian territories. The main goal of this research was to illuminate the role of Indonesian government in relation to Australian domestic immigration policies. Since the very beginning of their bilateral cooperation both countries have found it difficult to create a trustworthy and cooperative relationship primarily due to a number of socio-economic, political and cultural differences. Despite these differences the bilateral cooperation has improved significantly in a number of areas particularly during the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The bilateral cooperation on Australia's domestic policy of asylum seekers' mandatory offshore detention; this policy serves to deter asylum seekers from reaching Australian territories where they would be able to seek asylum in a country which has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Australia has however succeeded to deter asylum seekers in Indonesia's detention centres, and Indonesia has benefited from cooperating with Australia to stop and deter asylum seekers on its territories. Such cooperation is questionable as it does not respect many international laws. Australia is perceived as a country with a long history of democracy and the rule of law, it is economically developed and of the most developed countries that has also signed the international treaties on human rights. On the other side, Indonesia is a young democracy and developing country rich in natural resources and with population of some 250 million spread around vast archipelago that has only recently established itself as a democratic country.

Kata Kunci : asylum seeker, refugee, mandatory offshore detention, third country detention, immigration, boat people