Did the Foreign Minister really mean to
describe East Timor as “Indonesia’s sovereign territory” on Sunday – or was it just a trip down memory lane to the days when unrest there was
someone else’s problem:

LAURIE OAKES: Given that this is a clearly a war
crime, why do we need permission? If our police are in there, we’re controlling
the country with our military, why don’t we just deal with the crime?

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Oh
well, it is the law. I mean this is Indonesia’s sovereign territory, I mean it is how things
are investigated and the law and order system is ultimately a matter for them.
Even though of course it is substantially broken down, nevertheless the East
Timorese government will have to take the lead on that.