Canada protests RI ambassador<\/p>\n
OTTAWA (Reuter): Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said
\non Friday he had protested to Indonesia's ambassador a visit the
\ndiplomat paid to the mother of a Timorese woman who has taken
\nrefuge in Canada.<\/p>\n
\"We have sent a note to the ambassador stating that his
\nactions were inappropriate,\" Axworthy, a liberal who just took
\nover the foreign ministry portfolio last week, told reporters.<\/p>\n
He sent the letter on Thursday to Ambassador Benjamin Parwoto,
\nwho on Jan. 20 visited the home of Teresa Galhos in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Galhos's daughter Isabel has been outspoken against the human
\nrights violations reported there, since she became a refugee in
\nCanada last year.<\/p>\n
Isabel says Parwoto tried to quell her protests by threatening
\nher mother into convincing her daughter to move back home.<\/p>\n
Canadian diplomats subsequently visited the mother to get her
\nversion of the story in light of Indonesian denials.<\/p>\n
The question of human rights and in particular East Timor
\ndeveloped into a major issue during a trade mission Canadian
\nPrime Minister Jean Chretien to Indonesia from Jan. 16 to 18,
\nshortly before Parwoto's visit.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has strongly rejected Isabel Galhos' accusations
\nthat Parwoto's visit was undertaken to intimidate her mother.<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for the Canada-based human rights group East
\nTimor Alert Network said Axworthy's letter was not enough.<\/p>\n
\"It's a slap in the face for the ambassador. It won't change
\nanything,\" said Kerry Pither. \"The ambassador should be recalled.
\nThat's the least that can be done.\"<\/p>\n
Axworth said Parwoto would be allowed to stay in Canada for
\nthe time being: \"We will continue to see if any further action
\nneeds to be taken.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/canada-protests-ri-ambassador-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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