Britain welcomes Indonesian government's new openness
Britain welcomes Indonesian government's new openness
JAKARTA (JP): British Ambassador Robin Christopher has
welcomed the political openness introduced by the Indonesian
government despite the all-encompassing economic crisis, and
called for discourses on democratization and human rights.
Christopher told a media conference on Tuesday that in order
to ensure the momentum for democratization was not lost, now was
the right to time to discuss human rights protection in
Indonesia.
"The openness in Indonesia is really a pleasing development,"
he said as quoted by Antara. "All friendly countries, including
Britain, are watching this process carefully."
He noted the rapid changes that had taked place here since
May, and expressed confidence that they would lead to permanent
reform.
"For the first time in the last 30 years we have witnessed the
release of political prisoners, and openness in the mass media
and journalism, and freedom of expression," Christopher said.
Christopher announced at the media conference that the British
Embassy and the Representation of the European Commission in
Jakarta would hold a human rights workshop here on Wednesday and
Thursday.
The event is being organized by the National Commission on
Human Rights and is taking up as its theme Indonesia and Europe,
a cooperative human rights partnership.
The workshop will be jointly chaired by Marzuki Darusman, the
deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, and
David Harris, director of the Human Rights Law Center at
Britain's Nottingham University.
The event brings together 150 Indonesian and European experts
in human rights issues. The British embassy said in its statement
that this would be the first event of its kind the European Union
had organized.
Experts will discuss and debate human rights in four
categories: police and the judiciary; women's and children's
rights; human rights education, awareness and institution
building; and labor rights.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas hosted a
welcome reception for the participants on Tuesday evening, and
will make a keynote speech at the opening ceremony on Wednesday
morning. (swe)