NEWS RELEASES
CHAN MEETS WITH INDONESIAN LABOUR LEADER
May 6, 1999 (6:00 p.m. EDT) No. 100
CHAN MEETS WITH INDONESIAN LABOUR LEADER
Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today met with Indonesian labour leader
Muchtar Pakpahan to discuss political and economic developments in Indonesia.
"I am happy to have this opportunity to meet again with Mr. Pakpahan, whom I first met
during my visit to Indonesia last October," said Mr. Chan. "Mr. Pakpahan has earned great
respect from many Canadians for his international role in advocating democracy in
Indonesia."
Muchtar Pakpahan was General Chairman of the independent trade union Serik Buruh
Sejahtera Indonesia when he was imprisoned by the Soeharto government under anti-subversion laws for his comments on the riots of July 1996. Mr. Pakpahan's case
focussed international attention on that government's treatment of trade unions and its
infringement of freedoms of expression and assembly. He was released by the Indonesian
government on May 25, 1998, along with several other political prisoners.
Mr. Pakpahan's labour union has sponsored the creation of a political party to contest the
upcoming June 7 general election in Indonesia, and he campaigns widely on its behalf. In
1994, his independent trade union was provided financial assistance for leadership
training by Canada. In 1997, a Canadian medical team flew to Jakarta to assist in
diagnosing the then-detained trade union leader's medical condition.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Naseem Nuraney
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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