ICG to remain operational without Jones

ICG to remain operational without Jones

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The International Crisis Group (ICG) will continue its operations
in the country, despite the controversial departure of its
Southeast Asia director Sidney Jones.

Criticism, meanwhile, has poured in following the government's
decision to expel the American researcher, who replaced
Indonesianist Harold Crouch as ICG director in 2002.

"We hope very much that the (ICG) office (in Jakarta) will
stay open," Jones told a media conference on Wednesday.

ICG director Todung Mulya Lubis agreed.

"We are not thinking of closing down the office," he said.

Jones and Australian staff member, Francesca Lawe-Davies, will
leave the country on Saturday, following the immigration office's
deportation order for work permit offenses sent to them on
Tuesday. It was a bitter birthday present for Jones, who turned
52 on Monday.

Jones said she would fly home to the U.S. for a week-long
break.

The Brussels-based ICG will maintain Jones as its Southeast
Asia director, although she is uncertain where she will stay when
she resumes her job.

"I can't imagine not living in Indonesia. My life is here. And
I hope very much that we will both be back very soon," said
Jones, who has been denied entry to several countries, including
India, when she worked for international rights group the Human
Rights Watch.

The U.S. criticized on Wednesday (Thursday in Jakarta)
Indonesia's decision to expel Jones, saying it was a blow to
recent improvements in the country's record on freedom of
expression.

"We're not aware of any actions by her or other members of her
organization that would warrant such a step by Indonesia," State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher was quoted as saying by
Agence France-Presse.

"Such expulsions will be particularly disappointing because
this would stand in stark contrast to the impressive progress
made by Indonesia in recent years in developing a democratic
civil society with freedom of expression," he said.

Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara accused the government of
abusing its power in expelling Jones.

"The government has to be transparent in making a decision,
including its policy on granting permits to foreigners to work in
the country," Abdul Hakim said on Thursday.

A group of media and human rights activists met House of
Representatives legislators on Wednesday in a show of support for
Jones.

They said the expulsion of Jones could be perceived as a
threat to freedom of expression, therefore it served as "a bad
advertisement" for Indonesia in the eyes of the international
community.

"What has happened to Sidney can happen to others. This is a
setback. The government should bring the case to court if it
finds libel in the ICG reports," Todung told members of House
Commission I for security affairs.

Also present were rights activist Munir, Ulil Abshar Abdalla
of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s research group Lakpesdam, and
Bambang Harymurti, chief editor of Tempo weekly.

During a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers last week,
chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) A.M. Hendropriyono
hinted at a plan to expel Jones due to her reports that are
deemed critical of the government.

Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of the commission, admitted to the
delegation on Wednesday that the meeting with the BIN chief
discussed the presence of several non-governmental groups that
might cause instability in society.

"We agreed that the government should take strong action, but
we didn't refer to particular organizations," Ambong said.

Former security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the major
contender for incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri in the
presidential race, urged the government to clearly explain the
reasons for the deportation.

"If it does not, it will become a problem for democracy," he
told reporters while campaigning in the South Sulawesi town of
Makassar.

ICG president Gareth Evans, a former Australian prime
minister, deplored the decision.

"To shoot the messenger doesn't say much for the state of
political liberty in Indonesia under the Megawati government,"
said Evans in a press statement.