Taiwan's NGOs protest

We, the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation. The Garden of Hope Foundation, ECPAT Taiwan, Taiwanese Association for Human Rights and the Mission in Support of Women Victims of the Assaults and Rapes in Indonesia headed by attorney Wang Ching-Feng, hereby issue the following clarification and strongest protest against reports recently published in the Jakarta-based Kompas daily.

Kompas reported on Aug. 27, 1998 that during a visit to Indonesia, a delegation from Taiwan told the minister of defense and security/armed forces commander that "no victims were found and the Indonesian government had been fooled" by reports of sexual violence committed against ethnic Chinese women and girls since May this year.

Following our five-day visit to Indonesia, we are certain that since the May riots occurred, Indonesian women have experienced grave physical threats. Many, especially ethnic Chinese women and girls, suffered from rapes committed by unknown assailants. Even the National Commission on Human Rights in Indonesia issued a statement on July 8 acknowledging the fact that inhuman acts of violence were committed against ethnic Chinese women and girls and has condemned the acts as well as made an appeal for a government inquiry into the matter.

During our visit, State Minister of Women's Roles Tutty Alawiyah and the vice chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, Marzuki Darusman, also expressed serious concern over the matter. They have clearly voiced their expectation that the Indonesian government should conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Marzuki pointed out to our delegation that a national investigation report would be submitted after three months. Yet, after less than a month, a local-based newspaper, Kompas, published reports that the minister of information has casually expressed false information about our delegation. We deeply regret this matter.

We would like to clarify that none of the eight members of the delegation visited the minister of defense and security/Armed Forces commander. Neither did the delegation express the view that "no victims were found and the Indonesian government had been fooled."

On the contrary, upon returning to Taiwan, we held the "Stop violence with charity -- pray for victims of sexual violence in Indonesia" jointly with various religious groups on Aug. 16, 1998.

During the session of the "UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection on Minorities" in Geneva in mid- August 1998, non-governmental organizations from around the world also expressed strong concerns on this matter. On that occasion, attorney Wang also presented a report written by the Indonesia- based Volunteers for Humanity headed by Romo Sandyawan to Gay J. McDougall, a special rapporteur on systematic rape, sexual slavery and slavery-like practices during armed conflict, with the hope that an inquiry be conducted by the UN Human Rights Commission.

We will continue assisting NGOs in Indonesia to provide rehabilitation services to the victims. We can never allow erroneous reports to confuse people, much less willing to see a handful of people exercise their influence on the inquiry process for their own political motives. We urge the Indonesian government to exercise caution in handling this matter and to launch an investigation into the lies.

ATTORNEY WANG CHING-FENG

Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation

The Garden of Hope Foundation

End Child Prostitution Association Taiwan

Taiwan Association for Human Rights