U.S. still concerned over rights

U.S. still concerned over rights

JAKARTA (JP): A high ranking United States official said yesterday that, despite some progress, his country was still concerned about freedom of expression and association in Indonesia.

"While I have found reasons to be encouraged about some developments in these areas, unfortunately there are reasons for serious concern as well," said John Shattuck, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Speaking to journalists here yesterday, Shattuck, who is visiting Indonesia on the invitation of the National Commission on Human Rights, said there was a need for further improvements.

"I believe that the people of Indonesia want more progress on these matters and we strongly support that," he said.

Shattuck has been here since April 12 on a ten-day visit in which he has investigated the human rights situation in the country. During his stay he has met with several officials, including Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono and Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief.

He has met with representatives of the official labor union, the SPSI, and the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI). He has also met with the unrecognized rival of the SPSI, the SBSI, and with the unrecognized rival of the PWI, the Alliance of Independent Journalists.

During a three-day visit to East Timor, Shattuck held talks with Catholic Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and with regional military commander Col. Kiki Syahnakri.

Press

Shattuck argued strongly that freedom of expression and freedom of the press were basic elements in society and said their presence was a key factor in economic development.

"We are concerned about recent restrictions on the press and those who seek to write or speak without censorship," he said.

On June 21, 1994, the government revoked the licenses of three publications -- Tempo, Editor and DeTik -- citing administrative and editorial reasons.

Shattuck said that the official justification given for the June closures was "very inconsistent with a broad commitment to international standards of freedom of expression."

On the issue of East Timor, Shattuck urged the government to allow a greater degree of freedom to the people there.

"We encourage the government to give the people of East Timor more influence over their own affairs," he said, adding that there was a need to reduce the number of troops stationed in the province.

He said the United States regretted the Liquisa incident last January in which several civilians were killed by security forces.

"I am convinced of the need for full accountability for human rights abuses that occurred in Liquisa and other places in East Timor earlier this year," he said.

According to Shattuck, "there are certainly a number of examples of human rights abuses in the early part of this year."

Shattuck said that in meetings with government officials he had received assurances that those human rights abuses were being investigated but said he could not comment on the scope of the investigation because "I'm not privy to the details."

While complimenting the government on its minimum wage policy, Shattuck said there was a need for workers to have the right to associate freely and for "the activities of workers' organizations to be free from military intervention."

Although it is not illegal to form labor unions in Indonesia, only one association, the SPSI, is recognized by the government.

Shattuck praised the National Commission of Human Rights which, he said, had "gotten off to a good start."

"We anticipate that the Commission will play a critical role in ensuring accountability for official actions, particularly, but not only, in East Timor," he said.

Relations between Indonesia and the U.S. continue to be somewhat strained because Washington has persisted in scrutinizing Jakarta's human rights record.

Citing human rights violations, the U.S. Congress has suspended both a military training program and the sale, to Indonesia by Jordan, of U.S.-built jetfighters.

Washington has also threatened to suspend Indonesia's export privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences unless there are improvements in the labor rights situation.

Jakarta has thus far brushed aside U.S. criticisms as unacceptable interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs.(mds)