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.