Indonesia must better respect human rights: U.S.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said
\nyesterday that better respect for human rights is a fundamental
\npart of American foreign policy on Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Speaking shortly before a meeting with members of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights at the residence of U.S. Ambassador
\nRobert L. Barry, Christopher said U.S. President Bill Clinton
\nraised the human rights issue during his talks earlier yesterday
\nwith President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He said Clinton made it clear that while the U.S. and
\nIndonesia have a great opportunity to step up relations,
\ncriticism on the human rights situation here could become a
\nlimiting factor.<\/p>\n
"The relationship between the U.S. and Indonesia can never
\nreach its highest level unless people in the U.S. have the
\nconfidence that there is effort here to respect human rights,"
\nChristopher said, citing Clinton's view on the issue.<\/p>\n
The meeting with commission members was expected to give an
\nidea of the human rights situation here from their perspective,
\nChristopher said.<\/p>\n
Labor rights<\/p>\n
Explaining his country's stance on trade and labor rights,
\nU.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown said his country believed
\ncommercial engagement went hand in hand with the demonstration of
\nconcern on such issues.<\/p>\n
"We think there is nothing incompatible between commercial
\nengagement and demonstration of concern on human or labor
\nrights... Just the opposite is true, we believe that it is a
\ncomplementary strategy," he said.<\/p>\n
The delegation met with 10 commission members led by Deputy
\nChairman Miriam Budiardjo. Among the members present were Albert
\nHasibuan, Marzuki Darusman, Clementino dos Reis Amaral and
\nRoekmini Koesoemo Astoeti.<\/p>\n
After the meeting Albert Hasibuan explained that their visit
\nwas made on invitation by the U.S. embassy.<\/p>\n
While U.S. officials questioned them on labor rights, Albert
\nsaid, the commission asked whether there was a change in the U.S.
\npolicy towards human rights, citing that while on one hand the
\nU.S. seemed to be criticizing China for its human rights
\ncondition, on the other, it provided China with a Most Favored
\nNation status in trade.<\/p>\n
"But Secretary Brown explained this was just a matter of
\nstrategy -- and no policy changes -- to enable better relations
\nbetween the two countries," he said<\/p>\n
He added that this explanation could be "fully accepted" by
\ndeveloping countries.<\/p>\n
Media ban<\/p>\n
Albert said the meeting also discussed the issue of the recent
\nmedia closures.<\/p>\n
"We explained that the commission, through an unofficial
\nstatement, regrets this, but we also made it clear that we
\nsupported the court procedures which are currently underway,"
\nAlbert said.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said the commission also considered the media clamp-
\ndown as a setback in the openness process going on of the
\ncountry, "but the closures should be considered as incidents that
\ndo not effect the overall process towards greater openness".<\/p>\n
Albert was of the opinion that formally, Christopher could
\nunderstand the explanation given by the commission members.<\/p>\n
"However, he hopes that because the issue concerns U.S.
\npolicy, the situation should nevertheless be improved," he added.<\/p>\n
East Timor<\/p>\n
Marzuki said the Commission has been making recommendations to
\nthe government which will hopefully enable the East Timorese to
\nachieve more self-governance, or some sort of autonomy, in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the drawn-out demonstration by several East
\nTimorese students at the U.S. embassy, Marzuki said the
\nCommission had visited them on a fact-finding mission.<\/p>\n
Lawyers from the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) had earlier
\nasked to be allowed to meet the East Timorese but were rejected
\nby the local authorities.<\/p>\n
Members of the Commission, however, gained access easily.<\/p>\n
"We have no specific role as yet at this point other than to
\nwait for a concrete request by the East Timorese, to engage the
\ncommission in a mediating role to facilitate their leaving the
\ncompound," he said.<\/p>\n
The commission, only 10 months old, was established under a
\npresidential decree with its main task to ensure the sound
\nimplementation of human rights across the country.<\/p>\n
Albert rejected criticism that the commission is not
\nindependent enough to implement its job. "We feel quite
\nindependent." (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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