Indonesia: Govt to Meet Amnesty International About Papua

October 29, 2011

Govt to Meet Amnesty Int’l About Papua

JAKARTA: The government will meet with international human rights group Amnesty International about human rights issues in Papua, an official says.

“We are looking for the right time to communicate with Amnesty International,” Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said on Friday at the Presidential Palace.

However, Djoko declined to elaborate on what issues would be brought up at the meeting. “[I will tell you] later, as I have yet to meet with them,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had assigned Djoko to explain what happened in Papua to Amnesty International following reports on international television networks about Papuans’ demands that the Indonesian government free all prisoners who were detained after violence broke out between police and participants of the Third Papuan Congress in Abepura, Papua.

Yudhoyono ordered Djoko to explain the government’s noncombative moves to settle the problem, including through the legal process. The moves, he said, should not be perceived as an attempt to ignore human rights.

ENDS

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