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."