Canada to help RI promote human rights
Canada to help RI promote human rights
JAKARTA (JP): Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien defended his policy of close ties with Indonesia yesterday, arguing that cooperation, not confrontation, would help improve the human rights situation here.
He insisted that downgrading relations, political and economic, would obstruct attempts to correct Indonesia's human rights problems.
"It is participation, to be there, to raise the issue, to help them to cope with the problem. That's the best way," Chretien told journalists after witnessing the signing of more than US$2 billion in contracts between Indonesian and Canadian companies.
Chretien is leading a 400-strong delegation, comprised mostly of business executives, on a three-day visit here as part of a four-nation tour of Asian countries which include India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Though the visit is primarily aimed at drumming up business, Chretien during his discussion with President Soeharto earlier yesterday brought up the issue of human rights and East Timor.
"We discussed East Timor, we discussed human rights in general...It was a problem that was not avoided," the prime minister said.
Separately, Minister/Secretary of State Moerdiono said Chretien and Soeharto delved into human rights issues. "The president said Indonesia gives special attention to the enforcement of human rights," Moerdiono said of the morning's meeting at Merdeka Palace.
Canada has been one of the most vocal critics of Indonesia's human rights record. Following the incident on Nov. 12, 1991, in which over 50 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security officials, Ottawa froze a number of its aid projects to Indonesia.
However, Chretien said that much progress has been made in the field of human rights in the past few years. "This country is opening up, the situation has improved, they have the human rights commission," he said.
In a statement, he lauded Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights Commission and said Canada will assist the commission in its ability to promote and protect human rights.
Ottawa has allocated over $220,000 for the project, which will involve the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The assistance will include training in the monitoring of human rights issues, education and the development of a human rights study center.
Later yesterday evening during a dinner reception at the State Palace, President Soeharto welcomed the initiative.
"We deeply appreciate the cooperation between the two countries' human rights commissions," Soeharto said in his address.
Chretien is scheduled to open the Canadian Education Center at the World Trade Center this morning before departing for Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon. (mds)