Threat of sanctions looms over May rapes
Threat of sanctions looms over May rapes
TAIPEI (Agencies): Taiwan threatened yesterday to cut the
number of Indonesian migrant workers unless "Jakarta properly
handles the rape of ethnic Chinese women during the May 13-14
riot".
"If the Indonesian government does not take concrete action to
protect ethnic Chinese, we will limit the number of workers from
Indonesia," Labor Department Director Chan Huo-sheng told
parliament.
Ethnic Chinese, a wealthy minority in Indonesia, became a
featured target of mob violence during the May riots which led to
the downfall of then president Soeharto.
There are now 12,961 Indonesian workers and 3,000 Indonesian
maids in Taiwan, accounting for six per cent of the 240,000
foreign laborers, Chan said. Other foreign workers come from
Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
If Taiwan expels or cuts the number of Indonesian workers,
Taipei could give their jobs to the other three countries, or to
Vietnam and Nicaragua, which are also negotiating to send workers
to Taiwan.
Taiwan has been at the forefront of a global campaign to call
Indonesia to account over alleged atrocities against ethnic
Chinese during the riots.
Women's groups and the opposition New Party have protested
outside Indonesia's unofficial trade office in Taipei, demanding
investigations into the attacks and apologies and compensation to
the victims -- few of whom have lodged complaints.
Hong Kong
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, a local human rights group yesterday
urged ethnic Chinese women raped during the riots in Indonesia to
testify at a United Nations discrimination forum.
Their testimony would form the basis for the UN to send
experts to the southeast Asian country to investigate the
atrocities, said Law Yuk-kai, director of the Hong Kong Human
Rights Monitor.
"We are trying to find rape victims and witnesses to get them
to testify at a racial discrimination forum," Law said.
The UN Human Rights Sub-Commission on Race Discrimination has
convened a month-long meeting in Geneva, and there are lobbying
efforts to focus attention on the brutalities committed against
ethnic Chinese in Indonesia, Law said.
Law said the testimony of rape victims and witnesses would
make a very strong case for the UN to spearhead independent
investigations into the atrocities.
"They would help to get the United Nations to send experts
into Indonesia to investigate," Law said.
The rapes have also prompted Beijing to voice strong concern.
On Wednesday, a pro-Beijing newspaper in Hong Kong urged
Jakarta to rethink its policy on ethnic Chinese Indonesians.
"The violence inflicted on ethnic Chinese by lawless elements
in Indonesia is deplorable and disallowed by the heavens and
earth," the Wen Hui Pao said in an editorial.
"If they are not determinedly punished and if they are allowed
to continue in their brutal crimes, that will not only damage
Indonesia's image but will damage Indonesia's economy."