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Indonesian president plays down Australia's aid budget cut

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo played down Australia's move to cut down its development assistance program for Indonesia following the execution against two of its nationals charged with drug cases.

"It was their rights, whether it would be cut or even eliminated," President Widodo said after inaugurating a military hospital here on Wednesday.

President Widodo regarded that Australia's aid budget cut was something that need to be accepted by Indonesia.

Two Australians, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were executed recently along with six others from various nationalities by Indonesian apparatus after President Widodo rejected to give pardon for their involvement in drug cases.

Australia has conducted several diplomatic efforts to free its nationals from the execution, but it did not change President Widodo from canceling the execution.

Indonesia planned to continue execution against drug traffickers as a part of President Widodo's determination to wage war against drug abuses that have been rampant in the country.

Australian government has decided to cut down its assistance program to Indonesia for the period of 2015/2016 to 366 million U. S. Dollars, or 40 percent lower from the 605 million U.S. dollars it provided last year.

The decision was conveyed by Australian treasury minister in the parliament building on Tuesday.

The Australian assistance program for Indonesia, known was Ausaid, was used to help finance Indonesia's efforts in improving public health, education, rural areas, disaster risk reduction, social development and demographic governance. Endi