WRITTEN QUESTION E-1796/02

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: The safety of Moluccan Christians

The recent massacre of Christians in the village of Soya, Ambon, Indonesia has distressed and appalled many members of my constituency.

On 26 April 2002, Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of the Laskar Jihad publicly rejected the Malino peace agreement (which was meant to end the fighting between Muslims and Christians in the Moluccas) and said that the Muslims would destroy all Christians in Ambon. The evidence indicates that the Laskar Jihad carried out the massacre.

What is the Commission's stance regarding this issue?

Does the Commission believe that the Laskar Jihad and any other non-local fighters should be expelled from the Moluccas, Sulawesi and West Papua?

Does the Commission believe that Jafar Umar Thalib should be prosecuted?

Does the Commission agree that the 3000 or more Moluccan Christians forced to convert to Islam in Halmehera, Bacan, Buru and the Seram islands by Muslim militants should be evacuated to a place of safety?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

The Commission's Delegation in Jakarta, together with the diplomatic missions of the Member States, closely follows human rights developments throughout Indonesia and participates in all Union démarches to draw attention to concerns regarding human rights issues in Indonesia. The Commission shares the stated position of the Union, firmly supporting Indonesia's territorial integrity, while encouraging the Government to make urgent efforts to address and resolve peacefully Indonesia's internal conflicts, whether separatist or sectarian in character. Like the majority of the international community, the Commission considers that these internal conflicts are primarily the responsibility of Indonesia, and should be addressed first and foremost by the Indonesian Government, and by civil society organisations, the religious communities and other institutions in peaceful dialogue, within the rule of law, and respecting human rights without favour to any particular group.

Ongoing violence in the Moluccas as well as in the provinces of Aceh, Sulawesi and Papua gives rise for continuing concern. The Government of Indonesia led by President Megawati is, the Commission believes, making a real effort to balance the internal tensions and to encourage the settlement of disputes peacefully with respect for human rights. Their brokering of the recent Malino peace accords between the Christian and Moslem communities in the Moluccas and the rival groups in Sulawesi are examples.

The Commission is appreciative of the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to co-operate with the international alliance against terrorism. It has noted that the leader of the Laskar Jihad movement, Mr. Jafar Umar Thalib, has been arrested in the Moluccas and is now held in custody in Jakarta. It encourages the Government of Indonesia to apply thoroughly the due processes of law as appropriate in this and other cases.

The Commission is providing humanitarian assistance for the victims of disputes, as well as financial assistance to help resolve disputes and to improve the human rights situation in Indonesia. The Moluccas have been a particular focus of Commission actions in this regard. Already since 1999 the Commission has provided EUR 4 600 000 in emergency aid to assist the victims, both Christian and Moslem, of the violence in the Moluccas particularly Internally Displaced Persons. For the future, Indonesia is a focus country for the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights 2002-2004. Already, in 2000 and 2001, four actions for a total value of EUR 1 862 880 have been funded under this Initiative through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. And an indicative amount of EUR 2 500 000 is programmed for further European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) actions to be financed during 2002.