EU extends embargo against RI<\/p>\n
STRASBOURG (Agencies): The European Parliament voted on
\nThursday to prolong the EU arms embargo against Indonesia and its
\nsuspension of bilateral military cooperation.<\/p>\n
A statement from parliament said that to have done otherwise
\nwould have sent a signal to the Indonesian army that they had
\nbeen rehabilitated and would have legitimized the repression they
\ncontinued to exercise.<\/p>\n
The European Union declared the embargo on Sept. 16 after
\nreports of widespread violence in East Timor that followed the
\nAug. 30 United Nations sponsored ballot.<\/p>\n
The EU embargo had been due to expire on Jan. 17, 2000.<\/p>\n
The Parliament also called on the new Indonesian government to
\nseek a peaceful solution to the separatist movement in Aceh
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The European Parliament has taken up the stance of being very
\npro-East Timorese, continuously siding with pro-independence
\nmovement in the former Indonesian province.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday it awarded its 1999 Sakharov human rights prize
\nto East Timorese independence leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana".<\/p>\n
Parliament President Nicole Fontaine lauded the former
\nguerrilla fighter as a "spokesman for peace, justice and
\nfreedom".<\/p>\n
Previous winners of the Sakharov Prize named after Russian
\ndissident and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Andrei Sakharov (1921-
\n1989) include former South African president Nelson Mandela,
\nMyanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Chinese dissident
\nWei Jingsheng.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-extends-embargo-against-ri-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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