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.