HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc262-3W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government concerning the continuing forced conversion of Christians to Islam in the Moluccas. [150203]

Mr. Battle

We are deeply concerned by recent reports of attempts to force Christians to convert to Islam in Maluku and our ambassador has raised this with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta.

Both the Secretary of State for International Development and I visited Indonesia in October 2000 and discussed the situation in Maluku with President Wahid and senior Ministers. We urged tolerance and restraint and made clear to them the Indonesian Government's responsibility to maintain law and order and take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice. I also discussed events with Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN meeting in Vientiane on 12 December.

Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indonesian Government about attacks on Christians. [150103]

Mr. Battle

We continue to urge the Indonesian Government to exercise tolerance and restraint and remind them of their responsibility to maintain law and order and to take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice.

Both the Secretary of State for International Development and I visited Indonesia in October 2000 and discussed the situation in Maluku with President Wahid and senior Ministers. We urged tolerance and restraint and made clear to them the Indonesian Government's responsibility to maintain law and order and take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice. I also discussed events with Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN meeting in Vientiane on 12 December.

Back to