Foreign pressure grows on RI over PDI crackdown
Foreign pressure grows on RI over PDI crackdown
JAKARTA (Agencies): International pressure on Indonesia
mounted yesterday over the way the government is handling the
aftermath of the July 27 raid on the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) headquarters.
The authorities are still holding 133 people as of yesterday
in connection with the two-day riots following the takeover of
PDI headquarters by government-backed breakaway leader Soerjadi
from the democratically-elected Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The United States has threatened unspecified steps and
expressed concern over the human rights situation, while a
European Union representative here said the community's concern
over human rights issues had been expressed "at a high level."
In Oslo, three political parties called for a boycott of aid
to Norwegian firms investing in Indonesia, while in London late
last week a Foreign Office official called on all parties to
exercise restraint, AFP reported.
In Sydney, officials of the financially hard-pressed
Australian Labor Party scoffed at claims by the Indonesian
military that it had helped fund Indonesia's Democratic People's
Party (PRD), accused of inciting the riots.
The military has back-tracked on the allegations, with
sociopolitical affairs chief Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid saying Monday
that "it was Australian labor organizations, not the (Australian)
Labor Party", that is thought to have links with PRD.
PRD leader Budiman Sujatmiko has been accused of slandering
President Soeharto at the free-speech forum organized by Megawati
at the PDI headquarters in Jakarta in June and July. The former
PDI leader has been summoned to the police station as a witness
In Washington late Monday, White House Chief of Staff Leon
Panetta declined to outline possible steps the United States
might take and did not threaten to scrap a planned sale of nine
F-16 fighter jets to Indonesia.
But Panetta noted that the United States had protested the
crackdown on Megawati's supporters.
In Jakarta, the deputy head of mission at the Dutch embassy,
Dick Den Haas, speaking as a European Union representative, said
that the community has expressed concern to the Indonesian
government over human rights issues relating to the detainees.
"The situation of those arrested caused concern among the
members of the European Union," Den Haas said.
In Oslo, three political parties called for a boycott of
Norwegian firms, accusing Indonesia of human rights offenses.
However, the ruling Labor party and the Conservatives did not
support the call.
"This is very embarrassing for Norway. We demand a full stop
of the aid to Indonesia," Center Party MP Marit Arnstad said.
According to the left-wing Klassekampen paper, 85 million
kroner (US$13.3 million) went to assist Norwegian companies
investing in Indonesia last year.
In London on Friday, a Foreign Office spokesman said the
Indonesian charge d'affaires had been contacted over the issue.
"We have called on all parties to exercise restraint," the
spokesman said.
Meanwhile, responding to the voiced concern from abroad,
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday gave
his assurance that Jakarta would "process everything" based on
legal procedures.
He said the statements from foreign governments have mostly
been expressions of hope that the matter will be settled fairly
and peacefully.
When asked about suggestions that the PRD has connections with
certain groups in Australia, Alatas said the matter was still
being investigated by the appropriate officials.