Annastashya Emmanuelle and Oktovianus Pinontoan, The
Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon
The Indonesian government is set to formally reject the
European Parliament's suggestion to invite a United Nations
investigating team to probe human rights abuses in the country's
conflict areas.
Although the government has yet to receive formal notification
from the European Parliament, Coordinating Minister for Political
and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said on Thursday,
the government would strongly reject any foreign move to meddle in
domestic affairs.
"We appreciate the attention, but it would not be suitable
to let our domestic policies be dictated," he said, after
attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
The government is in the process of investigating human rights
abuses in conflict areas. An international fact-finding team,
therefore, would be unnecessary, he said.
Following their meeting in Strasbourg, France, last week, 13
members of the European Parliament signed the "European
Parliament Resolution on Indonesia" urging the Indonesian
government to invite UN special rapporteurs to investigate
torture cases conducted by the Indonesian Military in Aceh and
Irian Jaya.
One of the pointers of the resolution regretted the fact that
Indonesia has yet to establish an independent investigation team
for Maluku despite Vice President Hamzah Haz's agreement to do so.
However, the European Parliament hailed the arrest of Ja'afar
Umar Thalib, commander of Laskar Jihad, saying the move displayed
the government's commitment to support the peace process in Maluku
and its concerted efforts to banish acts of terrorism.
Vice President Hamzah Haz also rejected the suggestion of a
foreign investigating team, saying that matters in Maluku and
other riot-torn provinces should be dealt with by the government.
"We (would) have our own investigating team. We are just
waiting for the issuance of the presidential decree to officiate
it," he said after the Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf
Kalla said the investigating team for Maluku would comprise 11
members, yet the issuance date of the presidential decree has yet
to be decided.
On Thursday, the Ambon-based Pattimura Military Command
destroyed 1,724 bullets, 88 mortar grenades, 45 hand grenades, 10
handheld rocket launchers, 1,210 hand-made bombs and 61 land
mines, which were surrendered by warring factions in the area.
The security apparatus, however, believes there are still many
weapons stored by Christian and Muslim groups.
"We call on the public to hand in their weapons, as those
who are caught possessing arms will be severely punished,"
said the spokesman of the military command, Maj. Herry Suhardi
