APEC meeting not the place to discuss human rights: Barry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
\nforum must maintain its function as an economic-oriented body and
\navoid being saturated with issues, such as labor and human
\nrights, United States Ambassador to Jakarta, Robert L. Barry,
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
During a luncheon held by the International Forum Indonesian
\nhere yesterday, the ambassador asserted that APEC would not delve
\ninto issues which strayed from economic development.<\/p>\n
"There's no need to take all these issues into an area which
\nmakes the forum that's been developed less useful for the primary
\npurpose that it is designed for," said Barry.<\/p>\n
APEC comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong,
\nIndonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
\nGuinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
\nand the United States.<\/p>\n
Next week, Indonesia will host a series of high level meetings
\nstarting with an APEC Ministerial Meeting here on Nov. 11 and
\nNov.12 and an economic leaders meeting at the Bogor Presidential
\nPalace, some 60 kilometers south of Jakarta, on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Barry's comments yesterday were attributed to the
\nrecent pressure from various non-governmental organizations (NGO)
\ndemanding that Jakarta's alleged abuses of human rights and
\nneglect of workers' rights become a focus of the leaders meeting.<\/p>\n
Groups such as Amnesty International launched an aggressive
\ncampaign last month, when they met with a number of APEC leaders,
\nsuch as Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, in a bid to
\nhighlight such issues.<\/p>\n
Their efforts have by far gone unheeded, with APEC leaders
\nrefusing to let rights issues stain the discussion on trade
\nliberalization among forum members.<\/p>\n
"We don't think it ought to evolve into a forum of discussing
\nhuman rights," Barry said, while insisting that human rights
\nbelongs to a different forum.<\/p>\n
He noted that the most appropriate channel of dealing with
\nsuch issues was either bilaterally or through United Nations
\nagencies.<\/p>\n
Prospects<\/p>\n
Speaking on the prospects of the coming meetings, Barry
\nexpressed faith in the leaders meeting in Bogor.<\/p>\n
"I wish to underline the fact that there is no difference
\nalong developed and developing country lines about where APEC
\nought to be headed," he said.<\/p>\n
Two separate groups of the forum, the Eminent Persons Group
\nand the Pacific Business Forum, recently handed in their reports
\ncalling for the adoption of a timetable for trade liberalization
\nby 2010 and 2020 respectively.<\/p>\n
It was also reported that as host, Indonesia will put forth a
\nproposal calling for the adoption of a deadline for free trade in
\nthe upcoming meeting.<\/p>\n
There is no difference in substance between Indonesia and the
\nUnited States about where Indonesia is taking APEC under its
\nchairmanship, Barry noted.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, Prof. Bintoro Tjokroamidjojo, special
\nassistant on APEC affairs to President Soeharto, refused to
\nconfirm reports on Indonesia's proposal for a 2020 timetable for
\nfree trade in the region.<\/p>\n
"Wait until November 15 ..," Bintoro said as he scurried off
\ninto his chauffeured car. (mds)<\/p>",
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