New Zealand 'regrets' flag burning incident

JAKARTA (JP): New Zealand has formally expressed its regret to Jakarta about another incident on its home soil in which an Indonesian flag was set on fire during an anti-Indonesia demonstration.

"The protesters say they are against the behavior of the Indonesian government. However, what they have done insults all Indonesians whatever their political point of view," Foreign Minister Don McKinnon said in a statement released by his office in Wellington on Friday.

"The Indonesian flag is a symbol of freedom and nationhood. For some 400 years Indonesia was subject to colonization and only gained independence after a very costly struggle. Their flag therefore deserves respect," read the statement, a copy of which was made available by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

The latest flag burning incident in Christchurch was the third to have occurred in New Zealand in recent weeks.

"While I understand the aim of the protesters to ensure (that) human rights are respected in East Timor, this sort of action undermines the force of the government's representatives.

"In the last few weeks I have discussed our concerns about human rights abuses in Irian Jaya and East Timor on two occasions at the very highest levels of the Indonesian government.

"I will continue to do this, but burning the Indonesian flag is inappropriate and counterproductive. It confuses the real message.

"We need to maintain our relationship with Indonesia if we are to convey New Zealanders' concerns," McKinnon said. (emb)