Brussels, 17/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - On 17 January, the Portuguese Presidency made the following statement on behalf of the European Union concerning the situation in Indonesia:
"The EU has noted the historic changes of the last few months in Indonesia. It supports the efforts of the new democratically-elected Indonesian Government and welcomes the steps taken by President Wahid to strengthen the country's democracy, to reform the military and judicial systems, to restore the vitality of its economy and to solve its eternal conflicts through dialogue rather than force. The EU therefore believes that the restrictive measures taken against the previous Indonesian Government in September 1999, and which expired today, need not be renewed but notes that the EU policy regarding arms exports will be governed by strict implementation of the EU Code of Conduct. In this context the EU will continue to follow closely events in Indonesia.
The European Union is deeply concerned at the appalling violence in the Moluccas, the tensions in Irian Jaya and the persisting conflict in Aceh. The EU underlines the need to ensure accountability for past human rights abuses, particularly in East Timor, and the need to meet international concern about
the fate of the tens of thousands of refugees who remain in West Timor. On the eve of President Wahid's visit to Europe, the European Union reaffirms its support for a strong, united and democratic Indonesia and offers its help to the new Indonesian government in overcoming these challenges in order to strengthen the ties which bind together the European Union and a democratic Indonesia.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associate countries Cyprus and Malta and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration".
Amnesty International had requested that, on 14 January, the European Union must not resume the sale of arms or security equipment, on which there has been an embargo since last September, likely to be used to commit human rights violations in Indonesia. By doing so, "it will risk condemning more people to human rights abuses at the hands of a security force equipped with weapons manufactured in Europe", said the organisation. Amnesty International notes that, while "East Timor is now secure, similar patterns of intimidation and killing which shocked the world and prompted the EU to impose military sanctions on Indonesia are being repeated in other parts of Indonesia". The organisation pointed out that the Indonesian police personnel who joined with militia groups to attack innocent civilians in East Timor last year are now reported to be stationed in Aceh, where scores of people have been killed or have "disappeared" in recent months.