West slammed over human rights double standards

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas lashed out yesterday at the West's "double standards" in relation to its condemnation of human rights cases in Indonesia.

Alatas pointed to a recent letter from United States congressman Patrick Kennedy as an example of the slanted perception on human rights issues.

He lambasted the congressman's letter which queried the fate of those arrested in connection with a Christmas-eve riot in Dili, East Timor, but apparently showed little concern about the victims of the riot itself.

"The double standard is quite evident," he said of Kennedy's letter.

Patrick Kennedy is the son of renowned Senator Edward Kennedy and nephew of the late president John F. Kennedy.

The 29-year-old Democrat from Rhode Island made a brief stop in East Timor last month and was there when the outbreak occurred.

One off-duty soldier was beaten to death by a mob and about a dozen others injured in the melee. The commotion occurred as thousands gathered to welcome Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo who was returning home from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with President Soeharto, Alatas said Kennedy's letter expressed concern for those arrested and currently undergoing interrogation over the incident.

"However he only mentioned the incident itself in passing. In my reply I said it was very strange for him to be so persistent in his questions about those being detained but not expressing any concerns about the one who died and the many who were wounded," Alatas remarked.

Alatas highlighted Kennedy's letter as an example of the continuing hypocrisy and double standards being applied by the West.

He argued that it was common for people abroad to be arrested if a demonstration got out of hand. However if such a thing happened in East Timor, for example, there would be an immediate deluge of statements and questions about whether the rights of the detainees were being protected.

Alatas said he wondered why Western critics "forgot" to express their concern about the rights of the man who died at the hands of the mob.

"Doesn't a member of the security force have any rights too?" he asked.

Several U.S. Congress and Senate members have recently expressed concern over developments in East Timor and have urged the Clinton administration to take a tougher stand against Jakarta.

Last week Republican Congressman Frank Wolf suggested Washington send a high level envoy to discuss the issue of East Timor with Jakarta.

Though East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976, the United Nations still recognizes Portugal as the administrative power there.

Throughout 1996 various riots, both ethnic, economic and political, erupted in East Timor.

Speaking about the suspended tripartite talks between Jakarta and Lisbon, Alatas said Indonesia would welcome a resumption of the talks.

Under the aegis of the UN secretary-general, the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers have met eight times to try to negotiate an internationally acceptable solution to the issue. The talks however have largely remained stagnant on confidence building measures.

The ninth round of talks, due last December, was postponed due to the secretary-general changeover.

Newly elected UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan replaced outgoing Boutros Boutros-Ghali on Jan. 1, 1997.

Alatas said the new secretary-general has indicated he wants the talks to continue.

"We welcome every constructive and positive effort by the UN secretary-general to find a solution as long as it is comprehensive and fair, and acceptable to all members of the UN," Alatas said.

Alatas, who flies to Davos, Switzerland, today to attend the World Economic Forum, said he could meet with Annan on the sidelines of the conference to discuss the matter further.

However the minister asserted that a solution would only occur if Portugal showed the same willingness and goodwill.

"Portugal has not shown a serious attitude in the talks to seek a solution to the issue," he remarked, suggesting Lisbon might gain political benefit by letting the issue linger.

Alatas will be accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto and Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo to the six-day conference which starts tomorrow. (mds)