---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Dengan mengClick banner sponsor anda menyumbang Rp. 1000,- untuk HomePage IndoNews. ---------------------------------------------------------- Serambi Indonesia 18.2.99 Serambi interview with U.S Ambassador to Indonesia, J Stapelton Roy, at the Kuala Trip Hotel in Banda Aceh 17.2.99 What is the aim of your trip to Aceh? We want to gather data about the problems in Aceh from a variety of different sources. We want to know about the problems from the people of Aceh. This is my second trip to Aceh, the first time I was here in 1996, while DOM was still in place. What is your government's opinion in respect of the human rights abuses perpetrated in Aceh throughout DOM? The U.S. government is very concerned about human rights abuses. We view what has gone on in Aceh in the same way we view all human rights abuses which have taken place in Indonesia as a whole, and in other countries. We don?t differentiate between cases. We want to get the facts about what has happened in Aceh. But the facts exist already. What is the U.S.government going to do? After gathering the data, we will study it. If the facts are verified, we will raise the cases of human rights abuses with the government. We will raise them at very high level and ask them to give attention to the cases. We ask that they be followed up with concrete action. So not just "opening up" the cases, but also that those responsible be made accountable. Why does the U.S. government do this? Air aim is to make every effort to stop human rights abuses in order to create better conditions. How do you think this can be achieved? We work together with the government. We also have special relationship with Komnas HAM (National Commission for Human Rights) and NGOs. Also with local human rights groups. What steps will the U.S. government take? Every year we write a report about human rights problems in Indonesia, including what goes on in Aceh. What's the best way to resolve the Aceh situation? That's an internal matter for the Indonesian governemnt. I support freedom of expression, including peaceful demonstrations for example. What is clear, we cannot offer a solution for what are internal affairs of Indonesia. What about human rights abuses? There is no one perfect way of dealing with human rights abuses. What is clear is that human rights violations occur throughout the world. All we can do is to try and lessen them. What steps can be taken in order to lessen them? We believe and are certain that human rights violations must be exposed and must be investigated. Those implicated in the violations must be made accountable under law. And action must be taken in order to prevent further violations. The perpetrators must be punished under the full force of the law. Some of the people of Aceh are calling for independence from Indonesia. What is the U.S. perspective on this? That is an internal matter for the government of Indonesia. Do you support the thought that Aceh is better off as an independent state? Once again, that is an internal matter for the Indonesian government. Our government has never supported a separatist movement. How do you feel about the students? call for a referendum in order to resolve the Aceh problem? This is also an internal matter. We cannot get involved with the internal affairs of another state. There is information that Mobil Oil was implicated in human rights violations in Aceh. Moreover, the matter was taken up by Business Week, who carried out an investigation in the field. What is you opinion on this? I have already talked directly with top management at Mobil Oil. As far is I know, there is not way that such a thing is possible. But the location of Mobil Oil in Lhokseumawe is/has been used as a military base, and they have allowed the military to use their facilities. That matter is under investigation. I have already spoken with management. Management is in America isn't it? But what occured was in the field. I have already spoken to people in the U.S. with people in Jakarta and also with those in Lhokseumawe. They are all very concerned about that report., because they don?t wish to do something which is in effect supporting the violation of human rights. If Mobil Oil is implicated, what action would the American government take? Would this violate U.S. laws? Our laws are very much against corruption. We have a lot of legislation in respect of U.S. companies? activity abroad. We don?t have a special law which relates to trying companies which are involved in human rights violations. But the people of the U. S. Are very sensitive about that sort of thing. If a U.S. company is involved in human rights violations, the people would be very concerned. How about Mobil Oil itself? I am satisfied that Mobil Oil is extremely concerned with that report. As far as they have already investigated, they have proven that they were not directly implicated in human rights violations in Aceh. What reason would they have for doing so? What would be the benefit to Mobil? Clarification about Mobil Oil In a meeting with academic society at Unsyiah university yesterday, a student asked the U. S. Ambassador to clarify Mobil's involvement in human rights violations in Aceh. The Rector of Unsyiah, Dayan Dawood, took the opportunity to clarify Mobil Oil's position in Aceh. He said that both Mobil Oil Indonesia and PT Arun were merely contractors of Pertamina, the state oil company, with separate roles in exploration and processing of LNG. The sales contract was in the hands of Pertamina. Thus, automatically, the MOI issue could not be made the responsibility of the U. S. government. However, Dayan said that clarification was still necessary, in respect of the military facilities. The Ambassador agreed with Dayan's summation, but agreed that clarification was necessary on the part of MOI. In answer to another question, the Ambassador said that Aceh as with East Timor was recognised as part of Indonesia. And that is in accordance with international law which we must observe, he said, adding that only a number of European countries didn't acknowledge East Timor as being part of Indonesia. * DOM is (Designated as Military Operation Region) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 19 Feb 1999 jam 03:33:00 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
