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Indonesian protesters burn Tony Abbott pictures after he uses tsunami aid to bargain for double execution pardon

Indonesians are angry after Abbott attempted to use Australia's tsunami aid as a bargaining tool to pardon two convicted drug smugglers

Jack Simpson
Tuesday 24 February 2015 18:14 GMT
Malaysian protesters burning pictures of the Australian Prime Minister
Malaysian protesters burning pictures of the Australian Prime Minister

Students in Indonesia have burned pictures of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in reaction to his comments over the $1 billion aid his country sent to Indonesia in the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.

Young people from the Indonesian National Student Movement joined together in Malang Square, eastern Java today to burn pictures of the under fire Prime Minister as part of their “Coins for Australia” campaign that has swept the nation.

Indonesians are incensed after Tony Abbott asked for “reciprocity” when discussing the pending execution of two Australian nationals.

In the speech last week, Abbott said: “I would say to the Indonesian people and the Indonesian Government, we in Australia are always there to help you and we hope that you might reciprocate in this way at this time.”

Indonesians reacted angrily to Abbott’s comments, saying that the link between the tsunami and drug smugglers was "ill-judged" and "insulting".

It has now given birth to a nationwide social media campaign to payback Australia the AUS$1billion in coins.

Since the first was post was put up online before the weekend, there has been thousands of posts on Twitter and Facebook with pictures of Indonesian coins above the message #KoinUntukAustralia or #CoinsForAustralia.

Despite Abbott’s comments, Indonesian Attorney-General HM Prasetyo says the government is resolved to execute Chan, Sukumaran and deny drug offenders presidential clemency and Indonesia's Foreign Ministry have regarded Abbott’s comments as “threats”.

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