The Jakarta Post, 9/17/2005 11:29:31 AM
U.S. lawmakers chide Indonesia on West Papua
WASHINGTON (Reuters): Thirty-five members of the U.S. Congress have called on
Indonesia to lift travel restrictions to West Papua and halt the military buildup in the
province where a rebellion has simmered for decades.
"Despite efforts to impede access by international journalists and human rights and
humanitarian workers, we are aware that operations in the highlands have resulted in
numerous human rights violations since August 2004," lawmakers said in a letter on
Thursday to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The letter, signed by a bipartisan group of House ofRepresentatives members, said
the "travel permit system, requiring travelers to report their own movement to local
intelligence agencies, is contrary to the freedom of movement that is essential to a
functional democracy."
It called on Indonesia to suspend the travel permit system and visa policies "that
restrict access of international journalists, researchers, and (nongovernmental
organization) workers to WestPapua," an area of rich biological and cultural diversity.
It also called for a halt to new military operations there, and said, "churches, human
rights organizations and regional parliamentarians are reporting that thousands of
villagers have been forced to flee these military operations."
The letter, spearheaded by Reps. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, and Sam
Farr, a California Democrat, commended Indonesia for changing visa policies to give
journalists and international organizations access to Aceh province after thetsunami
disaster in December.
"We write to encourage you to continue with these positive steps by opening up
access to West Papua," the lawmakers said. (**)
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