Next U.S. envoy wants peace for Aceh<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja , The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States ambassador-designate to Indonesia B. Lynn
\nPascoe said that encouraging and facilitating the peace process
\nin Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam would be among his priorities during
\nhis tenure in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Current ambassador Ralph L. Boyce served in Indonesia since
\nOctober 2001.<\/p>\n
In a statement in front of the U.S. Senate committee on
\nforeign relations, Pascoe said that the Indonesian government
\nwould only be able to restore peace and stability in Aceh through
\nnonmilitary, broadly inclusive solutions.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the U.S. can encourage and help facilitate a
\npeaceful outcome to the violence in Aceh while promoting an
\napproach that simultaneously protects the territorial integrity
\nof Indonesia and the human rights of its citizens,\" Pascoe said,
\nas quoted by a text provided by the USINFO.STATE.GOV issued on
\nSept. 10.<\/p>\n
The ambassador-designate said that the recent lifting of
\nmartial law in Aceh has brought little change in bringing peace
\nto the restive province.<\/p>\n
He also expressed concern for the people in Maluku, Sulawesi
\nand Papua who have been suffering due to riots and incidents of
\nhuman rights abuses.<\/p>\n
Pascoe, a 37-year old veteran of the foreign service, has been
\nappointed by the U.S. government to replace Boyce, who has served
\nin Indonesia for almost three years.<\/p>\n
Pascoe has served for many years in Asia, including 10 years
\nin Chinese-speaking posts as well as Bangkok, and as envoy to
\nneighboring Malaysia.<\/p>\n
In the statement, he further said that Indonesia, both for
\nitself and its relations with the U.S. was entering \"a critical
\ntime of transition\".<\/p>\n
He cited that U.S. assistance to Indonesia's counterterrorism
\nefforts and to economic, judicial, and military reform \"all play
\nan essential role in helping Indonesians themselves make
\nprogress\".<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's strides in consolidating democracy have been
\ndramatic and deserve our full support, at the same time we remain
\nvery concerned with aspects of the human rights there,\" Pascoe
\nsaid in the statement.<\/p>\n
He cited the first direct presidential election in Indonesia
\nas an important step taken by the world's most populous Muslim
\ncountry in strengthening its democracy.<\/p>\n
On the counterterrorism issue, he lauded the steps taken in
\ndealing with the series of terrorist attacks in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia has taken vigorous actions to pursue and prosecute
\nthose responsible for the Bali and Marriott bombings, and the
\nIndonesian police have made significant progress in combating the
\nindigenous terror network responsible for these attacks, Jamaah
\nIslamiyah,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the economic field, Pascoe cited an urgent need for
\nfundamental economic reform and improvements to the investment
\nclimate.<\/p>\n
He vowed to pursue American interests in these areas
\nespecially in ensuring impartiality and the rule of law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/next-us-envoy-wants-peace-for-aceh-1447893297",
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