Canada to sends medical specialists for Pakpahan

Canada to sends medical specialists for Pakpahan

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
and Ati Nurbaiti

VANCOUVER, Canada (JP): Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd
Axworthy announced Sunday that Canada would be sending medical
diagnostic equipment and medical personnel to Indonesia for
jailed labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan.

"Mr Pakpahan's health is of concern to human rights activists
in Indonesia and abroad," said Axworthy on the sidelines of
preparations for the opening of the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting.

He added the decision was made following discussions earlier
this week with the office of the Indonesian Attorney General.

Pakpahan, head of the unsanctioned Indonesian Prosperous Labor
Union (SBSI), is being treated for lung problems at the Cikini
Hospital in Central Jakarta.

He has requested a lung imagery fluorescence endoscopy (LIFE)
to diagnose the extent of his illness. The treatment is currently
unavailable in Indonesia.

Axworthy said the Indonesian government has agreed to allow
the equipment along with specialists to be brought to Indonesia.

"We hope this humanitarian mission will provide an accurate
diagnosis of Mr Pakpahan's condition," Axworthy said.

Dr Stephen Lam, a lung specialist affiliated with the British
Columbia Cancer Agency, will perform the tests assisted by a
Canadian respiratory therapist and a technician.

It was not revealed when they are due to arrive in Jakarta,
but the news was met with praise by human rights groups here. In
Jakarta, SBSI promptly issued a statement praising the Canadian
government.

The International Center for Human Rights, Amnesty
International and the Canadian Labor Congress has been running a
postcard campaign calling for Pakpahan's release since March.
More than 100,000 postcards have reportedly been signed by
Canadians and sent to Axworthy.

Ottawa and Jakarta have been intensifying cooperation in human
rights since Axworthy's visit to Indonesia in July.

Demonstration

Meanwhile, about 5,000 people walked the streets of Vancouver
Sunday, demanding that APEC leaders focus more on social issues.
However, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien asserted that the
forum was not the appropriate arena to discuss human rights.

"These subjects are not discussed officially at APEC because
APEC is not structured for that ... APEC is an (arena for)
economic discussion for the liberalization of trade," Chretien
told journalists here Sunday morning.

But Chretien said the presence of 18 economic leaders at the
APEC meeting gives the opportunity for issues like human rights
and democratization to be discussed on the sidelines and on a
bilateral basis.

"We promote the changes that we believe should happen in some
of the countries on a bilateral basis," he said.

APEC comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand
and the United States.

The forum aims to work toward trade and investment
liberalization by 2010 for developing countries and 2020 for
developing ones.

Apart from the formal meeting which begins today, the 18
leaders attending are also scheduled to hold a series of
bilateral meetings.

Human rights has never been part of the formal APEC agenda.

But human rights gained more prominence in the current APEC
meetings as an alternative People's Summit including activists
and non-governmental organizations was held in parallel.

While the Canadian government acknowledges that human rights
is not part of the official APEC agenda, they have been
sponsoring the People's Summit to the tune of US$50,000.

After the close of the People's Summit Sunday, thousands took
to the streets in a joint protest to highlight several concerns:
environmental issues, labor rights, women's rights, democratic
suppression and East Timor.

The protesters braved heavy rain and chilly weather to walk to
the waterfront convention center where the APEC meetings are
held.

Carrying placards reading "APEC fiddles as Borneo burns", the
peaceful demonstrators sang songs and beat drums. Some wore Satan
costumes and stood on stilts as they shouted names of APEC
leaders whom they identified as their friends.

But police closed roads leading to the venue and most
delegates inside were oblivious of the demonstration.