Indonesia regrets Canadian protest
Indonesia regrets Canadian protest
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday
summoned Canadian Ambassador Lawrence Dickerson to express
Indonesia's deep regret at Ottawa's protest last week alleging
Indonesian government pressure on the mother of an East Timor
activist residing in Canada.
Ministry chief spokesman Ghaffar Fadyl confirmed that Director
General for Political Affairs Izhar Ibrahim conveyed the
Indonesian position to Ambassador Dickerson.
"The government greatly regrets the Canadian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade's decision to issue a
verbal note without first consulting the Indonesian ambassador in
Ottawa on the validity of the charges against him," Fadyl said.
The Canadian foreign ministry on Thursday sent the note to
Indonesian Ambassador Benjamin Parwoto to protest at his visit to
Theresa Galhos, the mother of Isabel Galhos who is now a Canadian
resident, at her home in East Timor on Jan. 20.
Ottawa said that Parwoto's actions "were inappropriate".
Isabel claimed that Parwoto was intimidating her mother to
stop her anti-Indonesian activities in Canada.
A similar verbal note was delivered by Ambassador Dickerson to
the Indonesian foreign ministry in Jakarta last week.
The Canadian move came a few days after two Canadian diplomats
based in Jakarta visited Theresa in Dili.
The government has refuted the claims and Theresa Galhos in
Dili has also reportedly denied receiving any threats from
Ambassador Parwoto.
Ghaffar lamented that Ambassador Parwoto's visit had been
misconstrued by the Canadian media and said that it was "most
regrettable" that Ottawa choose to believe the media accusations
against the Indonesian ambassador.
Indonesia's objections were delivered yesterday in an aide
memoire to Ambassador Dickerson during his meeting with Izhar,
ministry sources said.
Ghaffar expressed concern that good relations between Jakarta
and Ottawa were being undermined by certain parties.
"The Indonesian government is very concerned over the
activities of certain parties in Canada on the issue of human
rights and East Timor, which could disrupt relations between
Indonesia and Canada," he warned.
He reiterated that Parwoto's visit had been made into an issue
by the Canadian media following the visit of Prime Minister Jean
Chretien to Indonesia.(mds)