[asia-apec 1822] ETAN/IHRN: Rights Must Factor Into Economic Assistance to Indonesia

[John M. Miller]

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Kurt Biddle (IHRN) 202-393-4554e
Karen Orenstein (ETAN) 202-544-6911

Rights Must Factor Into Economic Assistance to Indonesia
Groups Call for Concrete Improvements in Justice and Human Rights Conditions

November 6--The East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) and the Indonesia 
Human Rights Network (IHRN) today called on the United States and other 
members of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) to make 
non-humanitarian financial assistance to Indonesia contingent on concrete, 
substantial improvements in justice and human rights conditions in East 
Timor and Indonesia. The CGI, comprised of the major bilateral and 
multilateral providers of economic assistance to Indonesia, meets in 
Jakarta on November 7 and 8.

“The ability to promote human rights, democracy, and justice in Indonesia 
and East Timor will be short-changed if the U.S. delegation does not 
publicly address and act upon the shortcomings of the Indonesian government 
at the CGI meeting,” said Karen Orenstein, Washington Coordinator for ETAN.

“At last year’s CGI meeting, the U.S. delegation stated their pledge was 
based on Indonesia’s compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1319. 
Progress in this direction has been far from adequate, and this must be 
taken into account by donor countries and agencies this year. The most 
effective way to ensure the Indonesian government takes these issues 
seriously is to put conditions on disbursement of donor funds,” added Karen 
Orenstein.

During the CGI conference in 2000, the U.S. delegation stated that “the 
U.S. decision to obligate these pledged funds will take into account not 
only Indonesia’s economic progress
but also that on UNSCR 1319.” UN 
Security Council Resolution 1319 “stresses that those responsible for the 
attacks on international personnel in West and East Timor be brought to 
justice” and “insists that the Government of Indonesia take immediate 
additional steps
to disarm and disband the militia immediately, restore law 
and order in the affected areas in West Timor, ensure safety and security 
in the refugee camps and for humanitarian workers, and prevent cross-border 
incursions into East Timor.”

“Human rights conditions have not improved in Indonesia over the past year, 
and in some areas have worsened remarkably. The Indonesian military 
continues its strategy of targeting human rights defenders, humanitarian 
workers, and other civilians. Arrest and detention of political prisoners 
have actually increased,” said Kurt Biddle, Washington Coordinator for IHRN.

“The U.S. administration must increase its pressure on Indonesia to comply 
with promises to bring perpetrators of crimes against humanity in East 
Timor and Indonesia to justice, rather than trust the latest assurances by 
senior Indonesian officials. Donors must back up their words with action,” 
said Biddle.

“The world rightfully condemned the extremely lenient sentences given to 
the six militia members who confessed to the September 6, 2000 killing of 
three UN refugee workers in West Timor. Fourteen months later, however, 
militia leaders still control refugee camps in West Timor and reside there 
with impunity. Further, those responsible for the murder of two UN 
peacekeepers in East Timor have not been brought to justice. What message 
will the U.S. send to the Indonesian government and security forces if 
non-humanitarian donations are pledged and obligated as usual?” questioned 
Orenstein.

Although refugee returns from West Timor have recently increased, the 
government of Indonesia has yet to effectively disarm militia. Sixty to 
eighty thousand East Timorese continue to languish in deplorable 
conditions. Furthermore, no Indonesian military or civilian personnel have 
been prosecuted for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 
1999. A UN International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor in January 
2000 called for an international tribunal to be established.

Aceh is a virtual military zone. More than 1200 people, most of them 
civilians, have been killed there since January of this year. In West 
Papua, murder, torture, and kidnappings by police are part of the "Sweeping 
and Clampdown Operation" that began in mid-June in the Wasior subdistrict 
of Manokwari. Hundreds of additional police and military troops have been 
deployed to the area. Some 5,000 civilians have fled their homes.

Members of the CGI include the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, 
Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. Bilateral donors 
include the United States, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Germany, France, 
Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Denmark and Australia.

The East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) supports advocates democracy, 
sustainable development, social, legal, and economic justice and human 
rights, including women's rights for the people of East Timor. ETAN, which 
has 28 local chapters throughout the U.S., calls for an international 
tribunal to prosecute crimes against humanity that took place in East Timor 
since 1975. For additional information see ETAN's web site 
(http://www.etan.org).

The Indonesia Human Rights Network (IHRN) is a U.S.-based grassroots 
organization working to educate and activate the American public and 
influence U.S. foreign policy and international economic interests to 
support democracy, demilitarization, and justice through accountability and 
rule of law in Indonesia. IHRN seeks to end armed forces repression in 
Indonesia by exposing it to international scrutiny. IHRN works with and 
advocates on behalf of people throughout the Indonesian archipelago to 
strengthen civil society. See www.IndonesiaNetwork.org for more information.

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John M. Miller         Internet: john at etan.org
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org  to find out how to learn
more about East Timor on the Internet
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