Canada protests RI ambassador

Canada protests RI ambassador

OTTAWA (Reuter): Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said on Friday he had protested to Indonesia's ambassador a visit the diplomat paid to the mother of a Timorese woman who has taken refuge in Canada.

"We have sent a note to the ambassador stating that his actions were inappropriate," Axworthy, a liberal who just took over the foreign ministry portfolio last week, told reporters.

He sent the letter on Thursday to Ambassador Benjamin Parwoto, who on Jan. 20 visited the home of Teresa Galhos in East Timor.

Galhos's daughter Isabel has been outspoken against the human rights violations reported there, since she became a refugee in Canada last year.

Isabel says Parwoto tried to quell her protests by threatening her mother into convincing her daughter to move back home.

Canadian diplomats subsequently visited the mother to get her version of the story in light of Indonesian denials.

The question of human rights and in particular East Timor developed into a major issue during a trade mission Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Indonesia from Jan. 16 to 18, shortly before Parwoto's visit.

Indonesia has strongly rejected Isabel Galhos' accusations that Parwoto's visit was undertaken to intimidate her mother.

A spokeswoman for the Canada-based human rights group East Timor Alert Network said Axworthy's letter was not enough.

"It's a slap in the face for the ambassador. It won't change anything," said Kerry Pither. "The ambassador should be recalled. That's the least that can be done."

Axworth said Parwoto would be allowed to stay in Canada for the time being: "We will continue to see if any further action needs to be taken."