Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs 

Meeting of the Chairman with the Indonesian Ambassador, Mr Nana S. Sutresna - 12 March 2002

The Ambassador, accompanied by his staff, was making his last visit to Ireland before returning home on the completion of his posting. The Chairman was accompanied by Liam Canniffe.

The following are some of the main points which arose during the meeting:

West Papua

There was a very frank discussion in relation to West Papua. The Chairman returned repeatedly to the issue of human rights abuses in West Papua by the Indonesian authorities and associated commercial interests. In addition he drew particular attention to the kidnapping and murder of 
the leader of the Papuan Presidium Council, Theys Eluay, and questioned the bona fides of the investigation team, set up by the Indonesian authorities, containing as it does senior representatives of the Indonesian military, which is a major component of the problem.

The Ambassador replied that West Papua has now been given a certain amount of autonomy and have set up two commissions to investigate the murder of Theys Eluay.

West Timor and East Timor

The Ambassador denied that Indonesia was preventing the return of people to East Timor from West Timor arguing that it would serve no good purpose to keep anyone in West Timor against his/her will. The Ambassador said that Indonesia is appealing the light sentences handed out to those who murdered 3 UN staff members in full view of Indonesian military personnel.

The Ambassador said that Indonesian relations with East Timor have improved greatly and it is keen to develop these good relations further.

General

The Ambassador conceded that human rights abuses had been committed in many areas during previous Indonesian governments. However, he maintained that the current Government under President Megawati is committed to human rights and an end to corruption. The Chairman reminded the Ambassador that the international community, and particularly the EU, would continue to insist on democratic and human rights for the peoples in the region and he called for compensation by Indonesia for West Papua and East Timor. 

Indonesian Economy

While the economy is making progress after its dramatic collapse in the late 1990's, the Ambassador said that Indonesia still needs international assistance. The debt burden, which it has to carry, has made recovery more difficult and so Indonesia needs the IMF to give it more space to allow for recovery. One of the areas which he felt will make a contribution to economic growth is tourism.

Desmond J O'Malley TD
Chairman 
27 March 2002