Indonesia defends verdict on Aceh activist
Indonesia defends verdict on Aceh activist
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta
The government Friday rejected U.S. criticism of the five-year
prison sentence imposed on an Aceh activist who seeks an
independence referendum in the war-torn province.
Muhammad Nazar, chairman of Aceh Referendum Information Center
(SIRA) was jailed Tuesday for "displaying hostility" to the
government through his campaign for a referendum on self-
determination in Aceh. He had served a 10-month sentence in 2001
for similar offenses.
The U.S. State Department criticised what it called the
"harsh" sentence, saying Nazar was exercising his right to
peaceful political activity.
"This is the latest in a series of convictions and prison
sentences for peaceful expression of anti-government views in
Indonesia," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on
Thursday.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
the courts were free from political intervention and it would not
be appropriate for the government to express an opinion on the
decision.
"Now, if the government of Indonesia itself has adopted that
kind of principled approach, we would have thought it rather
self-evident and appropriate for other governments to also have a
similar approach," he said.
Troops are in the second month of an all-out military
offensive aimed at wiping out separatist rebels in Aceh.
A number of local human rights activists and aid workers
suspected have also been arrested during the military operation
and they are now waiting trial. It is taking place under martial
law, which restricts the movement of foreign journalists and non-
governmental organizations.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has
rejected government arguments that the restrictions are needed to
protect the safety of foreigners and says they are instead
designed to block press access.
Natalegawa denied that Aceh is being closed to outsiders.
"On the contrary, I think since the integrated operation has
been launched, Aceh has been under more scrutiny than it has ever
been before ... We are being kept honest," he said.