Foreign medics 'free to examine Pakpahan'

Foreign medics 'free to examine Pakpahan'

By Kornelius Purba

VANCOUVER, Canada (JP): Indonesian President Soeharto told
United States President Bill Clinton on Monday that Indonesia
would not object to foreign doctors examining jailed labor leader
Muchtar Pakpahan.

Responding to Clinton's inquiry, Soeharto said foreign
physicians were free to come and examine Pakpahan but an
Indonesian doctor would have to be present.

"If foreign doctors want to check Pakpahan's health, they must
work together with Indonesian doctors whose skills are no less
sophisticated than foreign doctors," Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono said quoting Soeharto.

Pakpahan, chairman of the unsanctioned Indonesian Prosperity
Labor Union, is being treated for various health problems at a
hospital in Jakarta.

According to Moerdiono, Clinton did not directly ask
permission for American doctors to visit the jailed labor leader
nor appeal for his release during the meeting.

A day earlier Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy
announced that Ottawa would be sending medical equipment and
specialists to examine Pakpahan.

The scheduled 30-minute meeting between the two presidents at
Clinton's suite at the Waterfront Hotel here in downtown
Vancouver was extended to one-hour.

Soeharto was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas,
Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto
and economic advisor Widjojo Nitisastro.

Clinton was accompanied by Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy.

Soeharto and Clinton are in Vancouver to attend the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Clinton was among the five leaders to hold bilateral meetings
with Soeharto Monday.

On the same day, Soeharto also attended a luncheon with other
leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Soeharto had to skip a breakfast with ASEAN leaders and
Clinton in the morning because he had bilateral meetings with
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, New Zealand Prime Minister
Jim Bolger, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Canadian
Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Clinton also raised the issue of human rights and East Timor
during his meeting with Soeharto.

U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger said Clinton
talked about "the need for countries like Indonesia to deal with
how to accommodate order and liberty, and create the correct
balance as they develop."

"In this new information world provision will need to be made
for people who move to the beat of a different drummer and for
localized concerns within the context, obviously, of social
stability," Berger said.

"President Soeharto did not respond directly."

Moerdiono said Soeharto told Clinton that the government
respects differences of views but pointed out that democracy must
be in accordance with national culture.

"Any difference of views must be exercised in accordance with
prevailing laws," Moerdiono said.

Fund

According to Moerdiono, one topic which Soeharto raised with
all leaders he met Monday was the regional currency crisis.

"The President pointed out the... (need) to set up an
emergency fund for the region. Details on its form, the way to
collect the funds and who has the right to use the money can be
discussed later," Moerdiono said.

"Leaders who met with the President in general gave their
support to his ideas," Moerdiono said.

Soeharto and 17 other leaders will attend the APEC Economic
Leaders Meeting Tuesday (today Indonesian time).

He will depart later in the day for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for
a private religious visit. His children and grandchildren will
join him in Jeddah to perform umrah, Moslem minor pilgrimage.

Soeharto's plane will make a one-hour stopover for refueling
in Zurich, Switzerland. Soeharto and his entourage will arrive in
Jeddah on Thursday.

After performing his umrah Soeharto and his family will leave
for Jakarta on Friday night. He is expected to arrive in Jakarta
on Saturday afternoon.