British MPs probe human rights and E. Timor

British MPs probe human rights and E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): A British parliamentary delegation held a
meeting with members of the National Commission on Human Rights
Monday evening with probing questions about the way human rights
are being observed in Indonesia, including East Timor.

The six-member delegation, led by Patrick Nichols, came armed
with allegations of rampant human rights violations in Indonesia,
something which they received from press reports in Britain, said
Charles Himawan, one of the commission's members who met the
British MPs.

The press reports about human rights conditions in Indonesia
have been largely negative, giving the British people an
impression that local media did not dare to criticize the
government, Himawan said yesterday.

"The delegation said that the purpose of their visit is to
help the government of Indonesia inform the people in Britain
about the implementation of human rights in Indonesia because the
reports which reached them were really negative," Himawan said.

He said that the commission told the delegates that press
freedom in Indonesia was not as bad as what they learned. As an
example, local newspapers had published the commission's
criticism of the government in the case of the murder of labor
activist Marsinah, and in the banning of Tempo news weekly in
June, Himawan said.

"They were very surprised and asked for some newspaper
clippings so that they could ensure their colleagues in Britain
that the restrictions against the Indonesian press were not as
bad as they thought," he said.

On East Timor, the MPs asked the commission about the number
of people who died and disappeared after clashes between the
civilians and military. They raised the question based on the
great difference between the foreign reports and the official
statements about the number.

"I can't say that it's wrong because we are still digging out
facts about what has happened in East Timor," Himawan said.

He added that the commission had sent its members to the
province to investigate since it's formation in December.

The British delegation is scheduled to visit East Timor this
week.

The other issues they raised were freedom of speech, ethnic
discrimination, a defendant's right to legal counsel, and the
independence of the National Commission on Human Rights.(sim)