VP reproaches insensitive countries

VP reproaches insensitive countries

JAKARTA (JP): Speaking before representatives from some 120
parliaments, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri reproached
some "friendly countries" for their insensitivity toward
Indonesia's complex problems.

Without identifying the "friendly countries", Megawati during
her opening speech at the general debate of the 104th Inter-
Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference here on Tuesday said their
leaders had actually exacerbated problems faced by Indonesia.

"They are not only insensitive to the difficulties we are
encountering, they have even displayed an indication of
complicating our nation in a situation which is already very
difficult," Megawati remarked.

She said there had been an increasing impression in Indonesian
society that certain leaders "show arrogance which is not in line
with the new atmosphere of international relationships".

Megawati's remarks come at a time when Indonesia is under
international scrutiny.

While she did not specifically refer to the United States
directly, it is well known that Washington has imposed an arms
embargo on Indonesia.

Nevertheless Megawati unhesitatingly referred to such
embargoes as moves that arouse further social conflict.

She noted that while Indonesian law enforcers were told to
ensure protection of human rights, they are stifled in the
facilities available to them.

"We see as an irony that friendly countries, which have urged
us to continue in our endeavors to advance and protect our
people's human rights, are concurrently enforcing an embargo of
supplies of mobility means and of the minimum equipment needed.

"This kind of policy is equal in meaning with allowing social
horizontal conflicts to be rampant with all of the saddening
consequences," she remarked.

Ideas

Referring to the week-long conference which was opened on
Sunday, Megawati expressed hope that it would provide an
opportunity for the delegates, who are supposed to represent
people from all over the world, to exchange opinions on various
problems.

She added that each nation should develop its own format
fitting its historical and sociocultural context to meet the
universal standards of norms of democracy.

While high ideals were placed on the conference, the
atmosphere at the general plenary session, where each delegation
took turns to present their general view, was lethargic.

Few lawmakers attended the session, as a majority of the some
1,200 delegates took turns to vacate the main conference hall.

But in another room there was fierce debate in the drafting
committee tasked to formulate a resolution on the Middle East.

The committee consists of representatives from Indonesia,
Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Germany, Russia, France, Mali,
Thailand, Uruguay and Guatemala.

Almost all members of the committee refused to comment on the
results of the meeting.

"We agreed not to reveal (issues discussed at) the meeting," a
member of the committee from Thailand said as he left the meeting
room.

However Indonesia's Joko Susilo, a member of the drafting
committee, claimed that the meeting agreed to mention former
Israeli defense minister Ariel Sharon as the provocateur of the
recent Middle East violence.

"It was suggested by Indonesia, Morocco and Algeria and
finally agreed upon after the French delegate supported it," Joko
remarked.

Another contentious point was whether the resolution would
condemn Israel. Joko said that if the resolution did not,
Indonesia felt that it was better for the IPU to completely scrap
the resolution.

The committee is due to complete the draft on Wednesday. (jun)