The other side of Indonesia (Canadian News Item)
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INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT
- 100,000 CANADIANS SEND POSTCARDS
- ROGER CLARK, BOB WHITE AND WARREN ALLMAND CALL FOR RELEASE OF INDONESIAN TRADE UNIONIST
MONTREAL, March 17 /CNW/ - Canadian trade unions and human rights
organizations today launched a massive postcard campaign on behalf of
imprisoned Indonesian trade union leader Muchtar Pakpahan. Pakpahan, the leader of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) is currently serving a four-year sentence for charges that were politically motivated and is facing more trumped up charges of subversion. If convicted, Pakpahan could face the death penalty.
Organizations sponsoring the postcard campaign include Amnesty
International - Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress and its affiliates, and the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. The organizations plan to distribute 100,000 postcards amongst their own membership and the public. The postcards, to be sent to President Suharto, demand that Pakpahan be unconditionally released, that charges pending against him be dropped and that freedom of association be recognized for workers in Indonesia. A second postcard calls upon Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy to publicly condemn the Indonesian government's refusal to respect trade union rights. ``We must seize every possible opportunity to ensure that human rights are the highest priority on the international agenda,'' said Roger Clark, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Canada. ``We hope to use this action to highlight not only the plight of Muchtar Pakpahan, but to underscore the fundamental human rights of freedom of association and expression.''
Bob White, president of the Canadian Labour Congress expressed growing
concern over the deteriorating health of Muchtar Pakpahan in prison. ``The Indonesian government has targeted Muchtar because of his trade union activities and because of his support for democracy. We will continue to express the grave concerns of Canadians over the blatant and continued violations of basic and trade union rights.'' ``Although Canadian trade and investment in Indonesia are increasing, Muchtar Pakpahan's case clearly shows that human rights problems are as
serious as ever. Pakpahan is being persecuted because he defends workers' rights and has had the courage to speak out about other human rights abuses such as East Timor,'' added Warren Allmand, the newly appointed President of the ICHRDD.
The public can obtain copies of the postcard by calling (514) 283-6073 or by contacting any of the sponsoring organizations. |
