President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's planned visit to the Netherlands will be determined today after a court decision has emerged regarding the lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Maluku group.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands JE Habibie said this after the president's state visit was suddenly postponed Tuesday.
The RMS group filed an arrest charge against President SBY on charges of committing human rights violations in the case of raising the RMS flag in Ambon in 2007.
"This is not a safety issue, but a psychological and political issue ... Don't let us become the butt of a small group," said JE Habibie to Indonesian BBC.
"If the lawsuit is rejected, the president will come. Tactically I can say we 'lost' but strategically, if the president comes and demands are rejected we will win, "he added.
Rights infringement lawsuit
Wim Sopacua, vice president of RMS, said their main demand was the arrest of President SBY.
"The President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is directly responsible for violating the rights of RMS activists who have been detained since 2007 with the cruel behavior of Densus 88 by being thrown in prison," said Wim.
He said that currently there are 94 RMS activists who are languishing in a number of prisons including in Semarang, Malang, Kediri and Ambon.
“In Indonesia there is no way for the law to bring the president to judge… This is a good opportunity, juridically, by using the space in Dutch law. The person comes and we hope the judge agrees to hear his defense, ”added Wim.
Wim also said the evidence they submitted to court included the results of research by human rights groups.
“The evidence is sufficient, research materials from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. They send people into the field and talk directly to the victims. " (BBC).
