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<title>AXWORTHY DEPLORES VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA, ENCOURAGES CANADIANS TO LEAVE JAVA AND SUMATRA, AND URGES PEACEFUL REFORMS</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 14, 1998 No. 123</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY DEPLORES VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA, ENCOURAGES
CANADIANS TO LEAVE JAVA AND SUMATRA, AND URGES
PEACEFUL REFORMS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today advised Canadians to defer all
travel to Indonesia. He also recommended that Canadians resident in Jakarta,
elsewhere in Java and in Sumatra depart the country by the safest means, and as
soon as possible. He has instructed the Canadian Embassy to remove all non-essential staff and dependants. The Embassy continues to stay in contact with the
Canadian community, and remaining essential Embassy staff are available to assist
Canadians who may encounter problems leaving the country.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister Axworthy also used the occasion to deplore the death of Trisakti
University students and the escalating violence in Indonesia. He also called on
the Indonesian Government to pursue peaceful reforms.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am deeply concerned about recent developments in Indonesia, and I urge
Indonesian authorities to quickly launch full investigations to ensure
prosecution of the parties responsible for the recent incidents, including the
Trisakti shootings and disappearances of students and activists," said Minister
Axworthy. "With the escalating violence, we think it safest for Canadians to
leave the country."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Indonesian Ambassador to Canada was called in by the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade to be advised of Minister Axworthy's grave
concern about the situation in Indonesia and of his call for political reforms.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We cannot tolerate the use of excessive force as a means to solve the current
economic and social crisis in Indonesia," said Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
Raymond Chan. "I strongly encourage all parties involved to engage in an open and
transparent dialogue to bring about peace and stability in Indonesia."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Following his recent visit to Indonesia, Minister Chan raised the issue of
activists' disappearances in a letter to the Indonesian Justice Minister. On May
5, the Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia met with the Indonesian Defence Minister
to express Canada's concerns about the escalating violence and underlined the
need for restraint by the security forces.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The travel advisory report can be accessed through the Web site of the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Hilary Humphrey</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1852</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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