Indonesia to snub European offer on rights abuse probe

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon

The Indonesian government is set to formally reject the European Parliament's suggestion to invite a United Nations investigating team to probe human rights abuses in the country's conflict areas.

Although the government has yet to receive formal notification from the European Parliament, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said on Thursday, the government would strongly reject any foreign move to meddle in domestic affairs.

"We appreciate the attention, but it would not be suitable to let our domestic policies be dictated," he said, after attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The government is in the process of investigating human rights abuses in conflict areas. An international fact-finding team, therefore, would be unnecessary, he said.

Following their meeting in Strasbourg, France, last week, 13 members of the European Parliament signed the "European Parliament Resolution on Indonesia" urging the Indonesian government to invite UN special rapporteurs to investigate torture cases conducted by the Indonesian Military in Aceh and Irian Jaya.

One of the pointers of the resolution regretted the fact that Indonesia has yet to establish an independent investigation team for Maluku despite Vice President Hamzah Haz's agreement to do so.

However, the European Parliament hailed the arrest of Ja'afar Umar Thalib, commander of Laskar Jihad, saying the move displayed the government's commitment to support the peace process in Maluku and its concerted efforts to banish acts of terrorism.

Vice President Hamzah Haz also rejected the suggestion of a foreign investigating team, saying that matters in Maluku and other riot-torn provinces should be dealt with by the government.

"We (would) have our own investigating team. We are just waiting for the issuance of the presidential decree to officiate it," he said after the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla said the investigating team for Maluku would comprise 11 members, yet the issuance date of the presidential decree has yet to be decided.

On Thursday, the Ambon-based Pattimura Military Command destroyed 1,724 bullets, 88 mortar grenades, 45 hand grenades, 10 handheld rocket launchers, 1,210 hand-made bombs and 61 land mines, which were surrendered by warring factions in the area.

The security apparatus, however, believes there are still many weapons stored by Christian and Muslim groups.

"We call on the public to hand in their weapons, as those who are caught possessing arms will be severely punished," said the spokesman of the military command, Maj. Herry Suhardi.