Indonesia defends verdict on Aceh activist<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government Friday rejected U.S. criticism of the five-year
\nprison sentence imposed on an Aceh activist who seeks an
\nindependence referendum in the war-torn province.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nazar, chairman of Aceh Referendum Information Center
\n(SIRA) was jailed Tuesday for \"displaying hostility\" to the
\ngovernment through his campaign for a referendum on self-
\ndetermination in Aceh. He had served a 10-month sentence in 2001
\nfor similar offenses.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department criticised what it called the
\n\"harsh\" sentence, saying Nazar was exercising his right to
\npeaceful political activity.<\/p>\n
\"This is the latest in a series of convictions and prison
\nsentences for peaceful expression of anti-government views in
\nIndonesia,\" State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
\nthe courts were free from political intervention and it would not
\nbe appropriate for the government to express an opinion on the
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
\"Now, if the government of Indonesia itself has adopted that
\nkind of principled approach, we would have thought it rather
\nself-evident and appropriate for other governments to also have a
\nsimilar approach,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Troops are in the second month of an all-out military
\noffensive aimed at wiping out separatist rebels in Aceh.<\/p>\n
A number of local human rights activists and aid workers
\nsuspected have also been arrested during the military operation
\nand they are now waiting trial. It is taking place under martial
\nlaw, which restricts the movement of foreign journalists and non-
\ngovernmental organizations.<\/p>\n
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has
\nrejected government arguments that the restrictions are needed to
\nprotect the safety of foreigners and says they are instead
\ndesigned to block press access.<\/p>\n
Natalegawa denied that Aceh is being closed to outsiders.<\/p>\n
\"On the contrary, I think since the integrated operation has
\nbeen launched, Aceh has been under more scrutiny than it has ever
\nbeen before ... We are being kept honest,\" he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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