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."