Indonesia regrets Canadian protest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday
\nsummoned Canadian Ambassador Lawrence Dickerson to express
\nIndonesia's deep regret at Ottawa's protest last week alleging
\nIndonesian government pressure on the mother of an East Timor
\nactivist residing in Canada.<\/p>\n
Ministry chief spokesman Ghaffar Fadyl confirmed that Director
\nGeneral for Political Affairs Izhar Ibrahim conveyed the
\nIndonesian position to Ambassador Dickerson.<\/p>\n
"The government greatly regrets the Canadian Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs and International Trade's decision to issue a
\nverbal note without first consulting the Indonesian ambassador in
\nOttawa on the validity of the charges against him," Fadyl said.<\/p>\n
The Canadian foreign ministry on Thursday sent the note to
\nIndonesian Ambassador Benjamin Parwoto to protest at his visit to
\nTheresa Galhos, the mother of Isabel Galhos who is now a Canadian
\nresident, at her home in East Timor on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
Ottawa said that Parwoto's actions "were inappropriate".<\/p>\n
Isabel claimed that Parwoto was intimidating her mother to
\nstop her anti-Indonesian activities in Canada.<\/p>\n
A similar verbal note was delivered by Ambassador Dickerson to
\nthe Indonesian foreign ministry in Jakarta last week.<\/p>\n
The Canadian move came a few days after two Canadian diplomats
\nbased in Jakarta visited Theresa in Dili.<\/p>\n
The government has refuted the claims and Theresa Galhos in
\nDili has also reportedly denied receiving any threats from
\nAmbassador Parwoto.<\/p>\n
Ghaffar lamented that Ambassador Parwoto's visit had been
\nmisconstrued by the Canadian media and said that it was "most
\nregrettable" that Ottawa choose to believe the media accusations
\nagainst the Indonesian ambassador.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's objections were delivered yesterday in an aide
\nmemoire to Ambassador Dickerson during his meeting with Izhar,
\nministry sources said.<\/p>\n
Ghaffar expressed concern that good relations between Jakarta
\nand Ottawa were being undermined by certain parties.<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian government is very concerned over the
\nactivities of certain parties in Canada on the issue of human
\nrights and East Timor, which could disrupt relations between
\nIndonesia and Canada," he warned.<\/p>\n
He reiterated that Parwoto's visit had been made into an issue
\nby the Canadian media following the visit of Prime Minister Jean
\nChretien to Indonesia.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-regrets-canadian-protest-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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