Indonesia must better respect human rights: U.S.

JAKARTA (JP): U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said yesterday that better respect for human rights is a fundamental part of American foreign policy on Indonesia.

Speaking shortly before a meeting with members of the National Commission on Human Rights at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Robert L. Barry, Christopher said U.S. President Bill Clinton raised the human rights issue during his talks earlier yesterday with President Soeharto.

He said Clinton made it clear that while the U.S. and Indonesia have a great opportunity to step up relations, criticism on the human rights situation here could become a limiting factor.

"The relationship between the U.S. and Indonesia can never reach its highest level unless people in the U.S. have the confidence that there is effort here to respect human rights," Christopher said, citing Clinton's view on the issue.

The meeting with commission members was expected to give an idea of the human rights situation here from their perspective, Christopher said.

Labor rights

Explaining his country's stance on trade and labor rights, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown said his country believed commercial engagement went hand in hand with the demonstration of concern on such issues.

"We think there is nothing incompatible between commercial engagement and demonstration of concern on human or labor rights... Just the opposite is true, we believe that it is a complementary strategy," he said.

The delegation met with 10 commission members led by Deputy Chairman Miriam Budiardjo. Among the members present were Albert Hasibuan, Marzuki Darusman, Clementino dos Reis Amaral and Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti.

After the meeting Albert Hasibuan explained that their visit was made on invitation by the U.S. embassy.

While U.S. officials questioned them on labor rights, Albert said, the commission asked whether there was a change in the U.S. policy towards human rights, citing that while on one hand the U.S. seemed to be criticizing China for its human rights condition, on the other, it provided China with a Most Favored Nation status in trade.

"But Secretary Brown explained this was just a matter of strategy -- and no policy changes -- to enable better relations between the two countries," he said

He added that this explanation could be "fully accepted" by developing countries.

Media ban

Albert said the meeting also discussed the issue of the recent media closures.

"We explained that the commission, through an unofficial statement, regrets this, but we also made it clear that we supported the court procedures which are currently underway," Albert said.

Marzuki said the commission also considered the media clamp- down as a setback in the openness process going on of the country, "but the closures should be considered as incidents that do not effect the overall process towards greater openness".

Albert was of the opinion that formally, Christopher could understand the explanation given by the commission members.

"However, he hopes that because the issue concerns U.S. policy, the situation should nevertheless be improved," he added.

East Timor

Marzuki said the Commission has been making recommendations to the government which will hopefully enable the East Timorese to achieve more self-governance, or some sort of autonomy, in the future.

Commenting on the drawn-out demonstration by several East Timorese students at the U.S. embassy, Marzuki said the Commission had visited them on a fact-finding mission.

Lawyers from the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) had earlier asked to be allowed to meet the East Timorese but were rejected by the local authorities.

Members of the Commission, however, gained access easily.

"We have no specific role as yet at this point other than to wait for a concrete request by the East Timorese, to engage the commission in a mediating role to facilitate their leaving the compound," he said.

The commission, only 10 months old, was established under a presidential decree with its main task to ensure the sound implementation of human rights across the country.

Albert rejected criticism that the commission is not independent enough to implement its job. "We feel quite independent." (pwn)