ICG to remain operational without Jones<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The International Crisis Group (ICG) will continue its operations
\nin the country, despite the controversial departure of its
\nSoutheast Asia director Sidney Jones.<\/p>\n
Criticism, meanwhile, has poured in following the government's
\ndecision to expel the American researcher, who replaced
\nIndonesianist Harold Crouch as ICG director in 2002.<\/p>\n
"We hope very much that the (ICG) office (in Jakarta) will
\nstay open," Jones told a media conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
ICG director Todung Mulya Lubis agreed.<\/p>\n
"We are not thinking of closing down the office," he said.<\/p>\n
Jones and Australian staff member, Francesca Lawe-Davies, will
\nleave the country on Saturday, following the immigration office's
\ndeportation order for work permit offenses sent to them on
\nTuesday. It was a bitter birthday present for Jones, who turned
\n52 on Monday.<\/p>\n
Jones said she would fly home to the U.S. for a week-long
\nbreak.<\/p>\n
The Brussels-based ICG will maintain Jones as its Southeast
\nAsia director, although she is uncertain where she will stay when
\nshe resumes her job.<\/p>\n
"I can't imagine not living in Indonesia. My life is here. And
\nI hope very much that we will both be back very soon," said
\nJones, who has been denied entry to several countries, including
\nIndia, when she worked for international rights group the Human
\nRights Watch.<\/p>\n
The U.S. criticized on Wednesday (Thursday in Jakarta)
\nIndonesia's decision to expel Jones, saying it was a blow to
\nrecent improvements in the country's record on freedom of
\nexpression.<\/p>\n
"We're not aware of any actions by her or other members of her
\norganization that would warrant such a step by Indonesia," State
\nDepartment spokesman Richard Boucher was quoted as saying by
\nAgence France-Presse.<\/p>\n
"Such expulsions will be particularly disappointing because
\nthis would stand in stark contrast to the impressive progress
\nmade by Indonesia in recent years in developing a democratic
\ncivil society with freedom of expression," he said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara accused the government of
\nabusing its power in expelling Jones.<\/p>\n
"The government has to be transparent in making a decision,
\nincluding its policy on granting permits to foreigners to work in
\nthe country," Abdul Hakim said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A group of media and human rights activists met House of
\nRepresentatives legislators on Wednesday in a show of support for
\nJones.<\/p>\n
They said the expulsion of Jones could be perceived as a
\nthreat to freedom of expression, therefore it served as "a bad
\nadvertisement" for Indonesia in the eyes of the international
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
"What has happened to Sidney can happen to others. This is a
\nsetback. The government should bring the case to court if it
\nfinds libel in the ICG reports," Todung told members of House
\nCommission I for security affairs.<\/p>\n
Also present were rights activist Munir, Ulil Abshar Abdalla
\nof the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s research group Lakpesdam, and
\nBambang Harymurti, chief editor of Tempo weekly.<\/p>\n
During a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers last week,
\nchief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) A.M. Hendropriyono
\nhinted at a plan to expel Jones due to her reports that are
\ndeemed critical of the government.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of the commission, admitted to the
\ndelegation on Wednesday that the meeting with the BIN chief
\ndiscussed the presence of several non-governmental groups that
\nmight cause instability in society.<\/p>\n
"We agreed that the government should take strong action, but
\nwe didn't refer to particular organizations," Ambong said.<\/p>\n
Former security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the major
\ncontender for incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri in the
\npresidential race, urged the government to clearly explain the
\nreasons for the deportation.<\/p>\n
"If it does not, it will become a problem for democracy," he
\ntold reporters while campaigning in the South Sulawesi town of
\nMakassar.<\/p>\n
ICG president Gareth Evans, a former Australian prime
\nminister, deplored the decision.<\/p>\n
"To shoot the messenger doesn't say much for the state of
\npolitical liberty in Indonesia under the Megawati government,"
\nsaid Evans in a press statement.<\/p>",
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