The International Crisis Group (ICG), 25 November 2005
INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP - NEW MEDIA RELEASE
Crisis Group Shocked at New Ban on Sidney Jones
Brussels/Jakarta, 25 November 2005: "The International Crisis Group is shocked
and mystified by the decision of the Indonesian government to ban Sidney Jones, our
South East Asia Project Director, from entering the country," Crisis Group President
Gareth Evans said today.
Jones was denied entry on Thursday as she was returning to Jakarta from Taipei,
where she had accepted an award from TIME magazine on behalf of Crisis Group,
which had been designated in TIME's 10 October Asian edition as one of "Asia's
Heroes 2005" for its work on conflict prevention and resolution.
Jones had been expelled from Indonesia in June 2004 by the government of Megawati
Soekarnoputri but welcomed back in July 2005 by the Yudhoyono government. She
had obtained a work permit and a residence permit without difficulty, and all signs
were positive that Crisis Group would be allowed to continue its work in analysing
sources of conflict and extremist violence in South East Asia.
A Crisis Group report on the Aceh peace process, issued on 15 August 2005, the day
an accord between the Indonesian government and the Aceh rebels was signed in
Helsinki, was praised inside Indonesia and out as identifying issues that needed to be
addressed to keep the peace on track. Another report, published on 13 October, on
violence in Poso and Maluku, became required reading as a series of violent attacks
erupted in Poso in October and November. The most recent report on the region, on
violence in southern Thailand, published on 18 November, was also well-received.
"I'm just baffled," said Jones from Singapore. "I had no warning of any problems, have
no idea why this happened, and don't know when or if I'll be able to return."
Contacts: Andrew Stroehlein (Brussels) 32 (0) 2 541 16 35
Kimberly Abbott (Washington) 1 202 785 1601
To contact Crisis Group's Media Unit please click here
http://www.crisisgroup.org
The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit,
non-governmental organisation covering over 50 crisis-affected countries and territories
across four continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy
to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.
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