UN rights commission adjourns in deadlock<\/p>\n
GENEVA (Agencies): The United Nations human rights commission,
\nwhich has been meeting in special session to decide whether to
\nsend an inquiry commission to East Timor, adjourned in a deadlock
\non Friday night and agreed to meet again on Monday.<\/p>\n
The debate was due to wind up on Friday, but was prolonged
\nbecause of differences over the text of a resolution.<\/p>\n
The European Union stepped up its struggle to overcome
\nresistance from Indonesia and its Asian allies to an
\ninternational inquiry into alleged human rights violations in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
\"Some colleagues need time for instructions from their
\ngovernments,\" said Finnish Ambassador Pekka Huhtaniemi, speaking
\nfor the European Union (EU). \"So I believe a pause would be
\nwise.\"<\/p>\n
The EU replaced a toughly worded proposal with a slightly
\nsofter version which included praise for the Jakarta government
\nand stressed the importance of Indonesia's own National
\nCommission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
But wide differences remained about an investigation of abuses
\n-- with the EU insisting it should be internationally led with
\nIndonesian participation and Indonesia proposing a national fact-
\nfinding mission with foreign observers.<\/p>\n
An EU resolution called on the 53-member commission to
\n\"compile information on possible violations of human rights and
\nacts which may constitute breaches of international humanitarian
\nlaw committed in East Timor\", according to an advance copy
\nreleased to the media.<\/p>\n
The European Union further stated that anybody who committed
\nor authorized human rights violations would be held \"responsible
\nand accountable for those violations\", according to the text.<\/p>\n
But all 11 Asian nations in the commission, including
\nIndonesia, have officially opposed the proposal. Some developing
\ncountries, such as Sudan and Cuba, also voiced opposition.<\/p>\n
These countries stressed that Jakarta had shown its good faith
\nby agreeing to allow UN peacekeepers into East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"Any formula which will not recognize and add value to the
\neffort of the Indonesian government to find a solution to the
\nproblem in East Timor will not be acceptable,\" said Denis Lepatan
\nof the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Anxious to soothe regional sensitivities, the revised EU draft
\nstressed that Asian countries should be involved.<\/p>\n
It called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan \"to establish an
\ninternational commission of inquiry with adequate representation
\nof Asian experts, in order to, in cooperation with the Indonesian
\nNational Commission on Human Rights ... gather and compile
\nsystematically information on possible violations of human rights
\nand acts which may constitute breaches of international
\nhumanitarian law in East Timor.\"<\/p>\n
UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson called on Thursday
\nfor an international inquiry into reports that pro-Indonesian
\nmilitias killed East Timorese civilians.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-rights-commission-adjourns-in-deadlock-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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