Indonesians expressed their outrage over claims that Australia had been spying on the Indonesian government. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to apologise to Indonesia in the heat of the spying scandal.

The Twitter hashtag #GanyangAustralia became the Indonesians' online crusade against Australia. The hashtag, when translated, means "Crush Australia."

The Indonesian paper, Jakarta Post, has not wasted a moment criticising Australia in its editorial containing the declaration, "Now it's Personal!" According to reports, the Jakarta Post appeared to have let comments flow freely as most comments contained vulgar or explicit language not fit to be repeated anywhere.

One commenter known as SiangMalam may have summed up how Indonesians felt at the height of the spying controversy. He said Australians who commented in the forum talk as if "they are a super power developed country with no problems of their own." He wrote that if he were the Indonesian president, he will cut ties with Australia and send international students to other countries like New Zealand, U.S., UK or the Netherlands instead.

In closing, he said that just because a hundred "drunk" Australians are in Bali does not mean they are important to Indonesia.

Australia has given Indonesia $1.4378 billion in total aid for the last three years. Reports said the money provided funds for education, health, governance and economic development.

The tweet below is from an Indonesian who says: "If Australia keeps spying, better Indonesia not have ties with Australia. Eliminate."

@SindoRCTI klo kelakuan Australia suka nyadap terus mendingan Indonesia jngn ada hubungan lagi dgn Australia eliminasi aja #GanyangAustralia

— ram rusdan (@ramrusdan) November 19, 2013

Australians also used the hashtag #GanyangAustralia to defend their country:

#GanyangAustralia if Indonesia wern't such dodgy pricks we wouldn't need to spy, instead they breed terrorists and promote extremist crap — Ricky White (@ricraw84) November 22, 2013

We owe the Indonesians no apology for allegedly spying on them. #Snowdon owes both nations an apology for spying however! #GanyangAustralia

— TaylorMalthouseBevan (@tmalthousebevan) November 22, 2013

Some took to humour to ease the tension:

#Ganyangaustralia? Sounds like a dance group originally from South Korea? — Milton Phoenix (@Milton_Phoenix) November 21, 2013

Indonesians protest outside Australian embassy

According to Reuters, Indonesians burned flags of Australia over claims that Aussie spies have tapped the phones of President Susilo Bambang Yudyuhono and his wife. The controversy has strained the relations of both countries to an ultimate low since the late 1990s.

In Jakarta, around 200 Indonesians protested outside the gates of the Australian embassy to urge the government and Prime Minister Tony Abbott to apologise for spying on their leader. Mr Abbott has refused to issue an apology that further downgraded diplomatic relations between the neighbouring countries.

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