Indonesian president condemns cartoon in Australian paper

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono criticized Monday an Australian newspaper for publishing a caricature depicting him over Papua issue.

"The caricature is both insulting and an agitated gesture... which can spark public anger," Susilo said to a news conference at his office here.

The Weekend Australian earlier this month published a cartoon depicting Susilo as a dog copulating with a Papuan, also represented as a dog, with the caption: "Don't take this the wrong way, no offense intended."

The caricature reportedly was retaliation against a cartoon depicting Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as copulating dingoes. In the cartoon carried by Indonesian newspaper Rakyat Merdeka, Howard tells Downer "I want Papua."

Susilo also denounced Rakyat Merdeka (literally translates as Independent People) for publishing the cartoon.

"I understand the media in question intends to express anger based on nationalism, but my message is don't go too far and cause bigger problems," he said.

Source: Xinhua