JAKARTA, 02 April 2006 - There are concerns that a cartoon in the Weekend Australian newspaper will damage the relationship between the Australian and Indonesian governments. The cartoon depicts an Indonesian man as a canine copulating with a West Papuan. A similar cartoon making fun of the prime minister John Howard and the foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer appeared in an Indonesian newpaper in recent days.

It followed a decision by the Australian Government to grant temporary protection visas to 42 asylum seekers from the Indonesian province. Mr Downer says he's concerned that many Indonesians will find the latest cartoon racist and crude. "I don't want to see Australia and Indonesia's relationship which is going through a difficult period as a result of the application of Australian law by the Department of Immigration," he said.

"I don't want to see that relationship descend into an exchange of offensive cartoons. "I don't think that's going to get us anywhere and look if that's what the media want to do then they are free to do it."

The Indonesian cartoon

The Indonesian cartoon

The Australian cartoon

The Australian cartoon

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