RI won't tolerate separatist violence, Hassan tells UN<\/p>\n
Priscilla Cheung, Associated Press, United Nations<\/p>\n
Indonesia will not tolerate the separatist and sectarian violence
\nthat is hampering the government's efforts to revive the moribund
\neconomy, the foreign minister said on Thursday, addressing the
\ncountry's two most pressing issues.<\/p>\n
Hassan Wirayuda also urged other nations to do more to ensure
\na just and democratic world as part of the global campaign
\nagainst terrorism.<\/p>\n
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Hassan said Indonesia --
\nthe world's most populous Muslim nation -- is a good example that
\ndemocracy and Islam can coexist.<\/p>\n
"Whenever the powerful can get away with exploiting the weak,
\na sense of outrage smolders and there can be neither stability
\nnor peace. Whenever there is injustice and it is not redressed,
\nthere arises a culture of vengeance.<\/p>\n
"The challenge for all of us is to ensure that democracy works
\nand that it does actually deliver a better life for the people,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian officials on Wednesday offered to contribute troops
\nto a multinational force in post-Taliban Afghanistan, a move that
\nwould likely please Washington and other Muslim nations.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri publicly opposed the U.S.
\nbombing in Afghanistan after Islamic hard-liners criticized her
\ninitial support of Washington's war on terrorism.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who became president in July, has also taken a hard
\nline against separatist and sectarian rebels fighting in the
\nprovinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya, and Maluku.<\/p>\n
"We will not ... tolerate any acts of terror or violence for
\nseparatist ends against the territorial integrity and national
\nunity of our republic," Wirayuda warned.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia will meet the rebels' "legitimate demands
\nby introducing special autonomy and a great sharing of resources,
\nand guarantee respect for their culture and ethnic identities,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The former Indonesian province of East Timor voted for
\nindependence in August 1999 and is expected to become a new state
\nnext year. After the vote, pro-Indonesian militias went on a
\nlooting, killing and burning rampage which ended with the arrival
\nof an Australian peacekeeping force.<\/p>\n
Hassan said the police, military and the judicial system have
\nundergone reform under Megawati, and a special court will soon
\nbegin handling complaints of human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
The government also has taken measures to fight corruption and
\nrebuild the economy, still burdened by the after-effects of
\nAsia's 1997-1998 financial meltdown.<\/p>\n
"We feel that the situation in Indonesia today already merits
\nthe confidence of investors," he said. "But we can barely make a
\ngood case for this in the light of lingering threats to
\nsovereignty and territorial integrity of our republic."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-wont-tolerate-separatist-violence-hassan-tells-un-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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