Mandela's Jakarta visit 'inappropriate'
TAPOL, the London-based Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, called on South African President Nelson Mandela to raise publicly a number of human rights issues during his visit to Jakarta, which began on September 2. TAPOL described Mandela's visit as "inappropriate".
In a letter to Mandela, TAPOL wrote: "It is inappropriate for a person like yourself, for years the victim of a repressive regime, to be meeting and shaking hands with a dictator who presides over one of the world's most repressive regimes. However, at this late hour, we appeal to you to raise these issues while in Jakarta. This would help to remedy the unfortunate impression created by your visit ...
"As a world-renowned personality who has enjoyed the benefits of international solidarity in ending South Africa's acute human rights violations and in securing your own release from political imprisonment, you will surely heed our plea that you should take the opportunity to make your views known to your Indonesian host."
The letter referred to numerous acts of violence perpetrated by the Indonesian armed forces since 1965 against communists and, since the 1980s, against Muslim congregations in Tanjung Priok and Lampung, as well as the crushing of the liberation struggle in Aceh, North Sumatra, since 1989.
TAPOL drew Mandela's attention to Indonesia's illegal occupation of East Timor and to the fact that the resistance leader, Xanana Gusmao, is now serving a 20-year sentence in a Jakarta prison.
The letter also highlighted the Indonesian government's refusal to allow the independent trade union, SBSI, to exist and the forthcoming trials of a number of SBSI leaders, including its general chairperson, Muchtar Pakpahan. The banning of three leading weeklies was also raised.
This is Mandela's second visit to Indonesia since his release from prison in early 1990. On his first visit in October 1990, he received a donation from Suharto of $10 million. Mandela, who is going to Jakarta as president of the ANC, not as state president, may obtain another donation from Suharto to help the ANC reduce its election debts.
[From TAPOL.]