U.S. and UN fail to understand RI dilemma<\/p>\n
Following the U.S. disappointment expressed last week,
\nchairperson of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, Mary
\nRobinson, has also reiterated her dissatisfaction with the
\noutcome of Indonesia's recent trial of cases of human rights
\nabuses in East Timor.<\/p>\n
At the end of her three-day East Timor visit on Aug. 25, Mrs.
\nRobinson urged that an international tribunal be established to
\ntake over the trial of alleged crimes against humanity. She was
\ndissatisfied with the acquittal of six military\/police officers
\nby the ad hoc human rights tribunal on Aug. 15. The only
\ndefendant found guilty was former East Timor governor Abilio
\nOsorio Soares, who got three years in jail -- a sentence also
\nunder fire for being too light.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has explained that the trial of
\nthese cases was in conformity with international standards and
\nheld openly to allow public view as well as international
\nmonitoring. As a free and sovereign nation, Indonesia should not
\noverreact and lose confidence. On the other hand, it should not
\nignore the U.S. and UN criticisms either, in order to avoid
\ndifficulty in international discourse. By exercising restraint,
\nIndonesia needs to distinguish between serious world demands from
\ncasual ones.<\/p>\n
It is noticeable how the U.S. and Robinson have tended to make
\none-sided judgments. They completely failed to consider the
\ndilemmas and difficulties our nation faces with this issue,
\nbesides the disturbed conscience of the majority of Indonesian
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The trial had to be undertaken to meet external demands, but
\nconversely, the defendants were of great service for supporting
\nthe integration of East Timor with the unitary state of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-and-un-fail-to-understand-ri-dilemma-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }