UN human rights chief to visit E. Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations High Commissioner on Human
\nRights (UNCHR), Jose Ayala Lasso, arrives here Dec. 4 for a five-
\nday visit which will include meetings with senior government
\nofficials and a tour to the troubled province of East Timor.<\/p>\n
A foreign ministry statement said Ambassador Lasso would hold
\ndiscussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Alatas,
\nother Indonesian ministers and high-ranking officials and
\npertinent non-governmental organizations \"on matters relating to
\nthe promotion and protection of human rights.\"<\/p>\n
Lasso, who has been critical of the Indonesian government in
\npast reports on East Timor, was invited to Indonesia by the
\ngovernment to personally observe efforts to promote and protect
\nhuman rights in that region.<\/p>\n
His visit comes three months prior to the UNCHR annual session
\nin Geneva.<\/p>\n
A Portuguese colony until 1975, East Timor integrated into
\nIndonesia the following year. The United Nations, however, does
\nnot recognize Indonesia's rule over the territory.<\/p>\n
Under the guidance of the UN Secretary General, Jakarta and
\nLisbon are involved in on-going discussions to find an
\ninternationally acceptable solution to the East Timor problem.<\/p>\n
In the past month Jakarta has witnessed a wave of Timorese
\nscaling foreign embassies' walls in a bid to gain political
\nasylum. Nearly three dozen asylum seekers are now in Lisbon.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministry said Indonesian officials would also talk
\nwith Lasso about the follow-up of the Declaration and Program of
\nAction which was adopted during 1993's World Conference on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
\"In relation to the Declaration, Indonesia is a forerunner in
\nformulating a national plan of action on human rights,\" the
\nforeign ministry said.<\/p>\n
Lasso's trip here is part of a wider regional tour which
\nincludes Cambodia and Bangladesh.(mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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