PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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Ex-general's presidential nomination a blow for Indonesian democracy

21 April 2004

Indonesia's transition from dictatorship to democracy has been dealt a severe blow by today's nomination of former military chief General (ret.) Wiranto as the presidential candidate for the Golkar party of ex-dictator Suharto, says TAPOL the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign.

Wiranto was commander-in-chief of Indonesia's armed forces at the time of East Timor's 1999 vote for independence when systematic and gross violations of human rights were perpetrated against the civilian population by the Indonesian army and its militia proxies. He has been indicted on crimes against humanity charges by East Timor's UN-backed serious crimes tribunal.

"It is outrageous that a person indicted on such serious charges can aspire to high political office in this way. This is a major setback to efforts to end impunity, improve respect for human rights, and establish the rule of law, all key elements in building a meaningful democracy in Indonesia", says TAPOL spokesperson, Paul Barber.

TAPOL is urging all governments to press Indonesia to transfer Wiranto to East Timor to face trial and to arrest and extradite him to East Timor if he travels outside Indonesia.

It is calling upon the international community to express concern about the impact of Wiranto's nomination on Indonesia's democratic development.

It is also urging civil society organisations in Indonesia to express outrage at this grave affront to the victims of military violence perpetrated under Wiranto's command and to those striving to ensure Indonesia upholds the rule of law and complies with international standards of justice.

Although polls indicate that Wiranto is trailing behind current president Megawati Sukarnoputri and former security minister, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in the race for presidency, he must be regarded as a serious contender for the July election because of the organisational strength of Golkar and its success in gaining the most votes in the parliamentary elections held on 5 April.

TAPOL has previously expressed concern that a free and fair outcome to the parliamentary elections was impossible because of ongoing military operations in Aceh and West Papua [see http://tapol.gn.apc.org/pr040405.htm]. These areas, which are subjected to widespread human rights violations, stand to suffer most from a failure to end impunity and a reversal in Indonesia's transition from dictatorship to democracy.

ENDS

For more information, contact Paul Barber on +44 1420 80153.

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