The Indonesian government Friday issued a straight criticism against Australia's decision of granting visas to 42 asylum seekers from Papua Province, adding another divisiveness that puts bilateral ties to the test.

Australia's visa decision came only two months after an Indonesian court handed down heavy punishments to nine Australians convicted of drug smuggling -- two are now in death row and seven are serving life jail terms.

The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry accused Australia of applying double standards in its immigration policy and of turning a blind eye to groups in Australia that support separatism in Papua.

The visa decision is "the application of a double standard in this respect because in many other recent cases of asylum seeking, the Australian government has vigorously rejected them.

"The decision justifies speculations that there are elements in Australia that support separatist movement in Papua, and in this regard the Australian government has not done anything to them," the Ministry said.

In its strongest protest, the government will recall its ambassador to Australia to show Indonesia's deep disappointment with the visa decision, the ministry's spokesman Yuri Thamrin said in a news conference Friday.

Separately, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters that Ambassador Hamzah Thayeb "will return home with any first flight available."

Indonesian newspapers reacted with outrage to the temporary visas that entitle the 42 Papuans to stay for three years.

"Australia again makes it very heated," Media Indonesia newspaper said in its front page.

The newspaper ran a chronology of Australia-triggered events that strain the bilateral relations, from its open support to the secessionist movement in Timor Leste in 1999, to Canberra's plan of purchasing cruise missiles that can reach Jakarta, to Prime Minister John Howard's pre-emptive strike idea against possible terror threats from any countries in the region.

Lawmakers said Australia did very little to improve the bilateral ties and the visa decision was the latest move that potentially sparked diplomatic rows.

"It is worth thinking that Australia has a hidden agenda in Papua," said Yuddy Chrisnandi, a member of the House of Representatives' commission one overseeing foreign affairs and defense.

House speaker Agung Laksono said Friday Australia has shown " unfriendly gesture" to its neighbor.

Indonesia has repeatedly denied any torture and genocide accusations claimed by the asylum seekers, which then became the legal basis for the visa. Australia reportedly is working for another temporary visa for the 43rd Papuan.

The 43 Papuans arrived in Australia by boat in January, claiming that they faced abuses by the Indonesian military.

Indonesia said none of the asylum seekers are being sought by the Indonesian authority for any reason whatsoever, nor are they being subjected to any persecution in Indonesia.

"Indeed, the Indonesian government guaranteed their safety if they wish to return back to Indonesia," according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Despite the separatism issue and Indonesia's tough anti-drug law against Australians, the two countries have been collaborating closely in the fights against terrorism since the 2002 Bali bombings.

A joint investigation between the Indonesian police (Polri) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) led to a successful probe into the attacks that killed 202 people, including 89 Australians.

The collaboration continued excellently when the Australian embassy compound here was targeted by a car bombing in September 2004.

More than 35 militants have been convicted in the attacks, at least three have been put in death row.

But this time, strained by the visa decision, the hate-and-love bilateral ties come with a big "H."

Source: Xinhua