Foreign pressure grows on RI over PDI crackdown<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (Agencies): International pressure on Indonesia
\nmounted yesterday over the way the government is handling the
\naftermath of the July 27 raid on the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) headquarters.<\/p>\n
The authorities are still holding 133 people as of yesterday
\nin connection with the two-day riots following the takeover of
\nPDI headquarters by government-backed breakaway leader Soerjadi
\nfrom the democratically-elected Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The United States has threatened unspecified steps and
\nexpressed concern over the human rights situation, while a
\nEuropean Union representative here said the community's concern
\nover human rights issues had been expressed \"at a high level.\"<\/p>\n
In Oslo, three political parties called for a boycott of aid
\nto Norwegian firms investing in Indonesia, while in London late
\nlast week a Foreign Office official called on all parties to
\nexercise restraint, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
In Sydney, officials of the financially hard-pressed
\nAustralian Labor Party scoffed at claims by the Indonesian
\nmilitary that it had helped fund Indonesia's Democratic People's
\nParty (PRD), accused of inciting the riots.<\/p>\n
The military has back-tracked on the allegations, with
\nsociopolitical affairs chief Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid saying Monday
\nthat \"it was Australian labor organizations, not the (Australian)
\nLabor Party\", that is thought to have links with PRD.<\/p>\n
PRD leader Budiman Sujatmiko has been accused of slandering
\nPresident Soeharto at the free-speech forum organized by Megawati
\nat the PDI headquarters in Jakarta in June and July. The former
\nPDI leader has been summoned to the police station as a witness<\/p>\n
In Washington late Monday, White House Chief of Staff Leon
\nPanetta declined to outline possible steps the United States
\nmight take and did not threaten to scrap a planned sale of nine
\nF-16 fighter jets to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
But Panetta noted that the United States had protested the
\ncrackdown on Megawati's supporters.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the deputy head of mission at the Dutch embassy,
\nDick Den Haas, speaking as a European Union representative, said
\nthat the community has expressed concern to the Indonesian
\ngovernment over human rights issues relating to the detainees.<\/p>\n
\"The situation of those arrested caused concern among the
\nmembers of the European Union,\" Den Haas said.<\/p>\n
In Oslo, three political parties called for a boycott of
\nNorwegian firms, accusing Indonesia of human rights offenses.
\nHowever, the ruling Labor party and the Conservatives did not
\nsupport the call.<\/p>\n
\"This is very embarrassing for Norway. We demand a full stop
\nof the aid to Indonesia,\" Center Party MP Marit Arnstad said.<\/p>\n
According to the left-wing Klassekampen paper, 85 million
\nkroner (US$13.3 million) went to assist Norwegian companies
\ninvesting in Indonesia last year.<\/p>\n
In London on Friday, a Foreign Office spokesman said the
\nIndonesian charge d'affaires had been contacted over the issue.<\/p>\n
\"We have called on all parties to exercise restraint,\" the
\nspokesman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, responding to the voiced concern from abroad,
\nIndonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday gave
\nhis assurance that Jakarta would \"process everything\" based on
\nlegal procedures.<\/p>\n
He said the statements from foreign governments have mostly
\nbeen expressions of hope that the matter will be settled fairly
\nand peacefully.<\/p>\n
When asked about suggestions that the PRD has connections with
\ncertain groups in Australia, Alatas said the matter was still
\nbeing investigated by the appropriate officials.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-pressure-grows-on-ri-over-pdi-crackdown-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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