Articles Search

GENEVA, Switzerland (April 5, 2002 – The Age/Reuters)---Amnesty International accused Indonesian forces yesterday of grave human rights violations in Papua, where the murder of the province's top independence leader last year remains unresolved.

In a report issued during the annual United Nations Commission on Human Rights, it urged the 53-member state body to condemn "appalling" abuses by Indonesia's security forces in Papua, Aceh and elsewhere in the world's largest Muslim country.

Amnesty International's report, Impunity and Human Rights Violations in Papua, documents cases of extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention of activists.

Theys Eluay, who headed the pro-independence Papua Presidium Council, was found dead in his overturned car last November.

Police have not ruled out military involvement in the murder, although the army has denied all accusations.

"Each failure to investigate or bring those responsible...

By Edith G. Alejandro

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (April 4, 2002 – Saipan Tribune)---By 2005, the Commonwealth government is projected to lose a significant amount of revenue from the apparel industry as global competition surges due to the elimination of quota restrictions.

Citing the gross economic impact of the quota elimination to the Northern Marianas, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association (SGMA) urged the CNMI government to start instituting changes that would minimize its adverse financial effects.

In a briefing conducted before members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, SCC president and SGMA Executive Director Richard Pierce underscored the need to explore alternative means that would assist the island’s apparel industry weather stiffer competition come 2005.

Pierce pointed out that the negative impacts of the lifting of the quota restrictions on the CNMI range from higher consumer prices to lower airline traffic.

"Without the...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (April 2, 2002 – Samoa News)---A group of local leaders, led by Senator Te'o J. Fuavai and Pago Pago Rep. Muavaefaatasi Ae Ae, Jr., disclosed yesterday that they plan to ask Aumua Amata Coleman to run for Congress when she returns to the Territory on April 5th.

Aumua will be here to observe the 5th anniversary of the passing of her father, the late Governor Peter Tali Coleman.

"I have looked over the potential list of candidates this year," said Sen. Te'o, "and believe that Amata is the best one to represent our people in Washington in the years ahead."

Te'o, who is Republican National Committeeman for American Samoa, said he will ask the party to convene a meeting while Amata is in the Territory to discuss her prospects.

"Our current Delegate is a Democrat and his main challenger so far is a former chairman of the Democratic Party. Election of either of them will not represent the change we need," said Senate Te'o.

"Let'...

JAKARTA, Indonesia (April 2-8, 2002 – Tempo Magazine/Kabar-Irian)---Planning and carrying out a cold-blooded killing, then hiding and erasing traces of it are not noble deeds. No medals are awarded to soldiers who perpetrate such acts. If the victims are citizens of the soldier's own country, these acts could be described as cruel and cowardly.

Soldiers are paid to defend the nation from external threats, not to carry out brutal acts. That is why they alone have the right to bear arms and to use violence against enemies of the nation. Every country has only one army, which is trained and prepared for only one aim: victory. So for soldiers, victory is right, and they are only in the wrong if they lose. That is the yardstick they use.

But as well as being useful, maintaining unity and the losing-is-wrong philosophy can lead to problems. If losing is wrong and losing is forbidden, soldiers do not want to be wrong or to be blamed. Because the military is a harmonious unit...