European parliament urges EU to condemn Indonesia

European parliament urges EU to condemn Indonesia

STRASBOURG, France (Agencies): The European Parliament urged
the European Union Thursday to speak out against the Indonesian
government, which it accused of stepping up repression in the
run-up to general elections on May 29, Reuters reported.

"The European Parliament urges the (EU) to express their
concern about the human rights situation in Indonesia in general
and about the undemocratic way that elections are carried out in
particular," the EU assembly said in a resolution.

The move comes only days after international human rights
organization Amnesty International called for the unconditional
release from prison of members of People's Democratic Party (PRD)
and insisted that the maintenance of public order "should not be
at the expense of basic freedoms".

The EU parliament resolution, which is non-binding, urged the
Indonesian government to accept independent monitoring of the
elections.

Euro-deputies insisted the 15-member EU bloc should raise
human rights concerns in talks with the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia is a leading member.

"Trade relations with ASEAN states should be subject to
respect for human rights and ... these two matters cannot be
discussed separately," the resolution said.

The EU has a trade and aid agreement with ASEAN but talks on a
more wide-ranging pact have been stalled by ASEAN reticence to
accept the EU demand for the inclusion of a human rights clause.

The parliament reiterated its demands for the EU states to
stop all military assistance and arms sales to Indonesia.

Former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into
Indonesia as the 27th province in 1976.

Meanwhile officials in London said that British Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook was expected to discuss the controversial
issue of trade with Indonesia when he travels to the United
States this weekend, AFP reported.

Cook has pledged to tighten up controls on arms exports, as
the new Labour government puts human rights at the heart of its
foreign policy.

Sales of Hawk jets, armored vehicles and riot control
equipment have aroused concerns for several years because of
Indonesia's human rights record.

Twenty-four Hawk jets, recently delivered from Britain, were
officially handed over by Indonesian Minister of Defense and
Security Edi Sudradjat to Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung
on Wednesday in Pekanbaru, Riau.

Edi said bilateral discussions between Indonesia and Britain
over the purchase of 18 more Hawk-100 trainers and Hawk-200
fighters would not be hampered by the change in the British
government.