UNHRC report not a setback<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia played down a United Nations Human
\nRights Commission (UNHRC) statement of concern on East Timor and
\ndenied there were any negative aspects to UN human rights
\ncommissioner Jose Ayala Lassio's trip to the province.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs here refuted suggestions that
\nthe UNHRC's findings were a setback to Indonesia's efforts at
\npainting a positive picture of its development projects in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday, during an annual session in Geneva, the UNHRC
\ncriticized Indonesia for human rights abuses in East Timor in a
\nconsensus declaration.<\/p>\n
East Timor is a former Portuguese colony which integrated into
\nIndonesia in 1976 and has since become an Indonesian province.<\/p>\n
The 53-member group also called on Jakarta to accept a visit
\nby Lassio to inspect the situation in the province.<\/p>\n
Lassio's impending journey will mark the highest level visit
\nby any UN representative to East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"After comparing last year's report to this year's, we found
\nthere was not much difference,\" Irawan Abidin, the foreign
\nministry's director of information, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Last year Indonesia was successful in averting a UNHRC
\ncondemnation resolution.<\/p>\n
However, this year a set of circumstances weighed heavily
\nagainst Jakarta's case.<\/p>\n
The first was the alleged killing of civilians by Armed Forces
\npersonnel in Liquisa regency and the second was UN special
\nrapporteur Bacre Waly Ndaye's stinging report on East Timor.<\/p>\n
In his report, Ndaye called for a new inquiry into the 1991
\nDili incident, in which over 50 demonstrators were killed, and
\nsuggested that the tragic affair was not accidental.<\/p>\n
Jakarta on Thursday denounced Ndaye's report as unbalanced and
\nnot objective.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of the difficult job in Geneva, the foreign
\nministry sent Director General of Political Affairs Izhar Ibrahim
\nto lead the Indonesian delegation.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Lassio's future arrival here, Irawan said that
\nthe UN commissioner would be welcomed and Jakarta would invite
\nthe world objectively view the positive developments achieved in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Irawan further said that prior to this year's UNHRC session,
\nJakarta had already agreed to allow Lassio to visit the province.
\nIt was only a matter of scheduling which delayed his arrival,
\nIrawan noted.<\/p>\n
\"That he was mentioned is just a coincidence,\" Irawan
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Irawan also wished to correct a statement in the leading story
\non this page on Thursday, in which he commented on a discrepancy
\nin the findings by two separate investigations into the Liquisa
\naffair.<\/p>\n
Irawan was reported to have said that he was not surprised at
\nthe findings of the National Commission on Human Rights and the
\nOfficers' Honor Council.<\/p>\n
He clarified that he meant the Commission and the Armed Forces
\nfact-finding team, not the Officer's Honor Council.<\/p>\n
Irawan pointed out that both investigations -- the National
\nCommission on Human Rights and ABRI's inquiry -- would provide
\nuseful input into the recommendations of the Officers' Honor
\nCouncil. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unhrc-report-not-a-setback-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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