George Aditjondro wants to stay in Australia: Report

George Aditjondro wants to stay in Australia: Report

PERTH, Australia (AFP): Indonesian academic and human rights activist George Aditjondro, facing serious political charges in Indonesia, wants to stay permanently in Australia, the West Australian reported Monday.

George, 49, teaching Asian studies at Perth's Murdoch University, spoke of his wishes after the arrival from Indonesia Sunday of his son, Enrico, 19, the paper said.

His wife, Esti, is already in Western Australia.

George denies Indonesian police claims that three summonses have been sent to him in Australia, saying he is aware of only one charge, "insulting a Government body". This carries a possible 18-month jail term.

The report quoted George as saying he had decided to seek permanent residency in Australia after consulting the Western Australian branch of the International Commission of Jurists.

"I am advised that, if I obtain permanent residency, I will have the protection of Australian law and therefore have no need to seek refugee status," he said in the report.

"Apart from my objections to the unjust manipulation of the legal system in Indonesia, I also see, in my decision to stay here, a lot of benefits for the democratic struggle in Indonesia.

"I am engaged in research on the links between business and politics in Indonesia that may have a critical bearing on the post-Soeharto era."

Indonesian police are investigating speeches George made last August at the Universitas Islam Indonesia in Yogyakarta during a seminar on the theme "The Urgency of Democratization in the Wake of the Coming (Presidential) Succession".

George is still listed as a staff lecturer at the Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java. He once earned the official wrath for publishing a study on the political situation in East Timor which the authorities said contained inaccuracies.