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Statement by New York, 28 October 2002 Mr. Chairman, At the outset let me thank the Secretary-General for his reports on these subjects, which frame our discussion here today. Also, my delegation would like to associate itself with the statement made by the representative of Venezuela, on behalf of the G-77 and China. Mr. Chairman, A year ago in Durban, South Africa, the international community gathered for the purpose of stamping out racism, and affirming that all the peoples of the world belong to the brotherhood of man. The Durban Plan of Action was adopted calling for all countries to become party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and form their own national action plans for combating racism. Indonesia had already become a party to that Convention in 1999. It was one of the first acts undertaken by the new democratic government pursuant to the objectives that were laid out in the National Plan of Action on Human Rights for 1998-2003. The National Plan of Action laid out a series of concrete goals in four areas, the ratification of international human rights instruments, education on human rights issues, implementation in priority areas concerning human rights, and the domestic implementation of international human rights instruments. In formulating the Plan of Action, Indonesia set out for itself a series of time dependent objectives which established national priorities in the evolution of democracy, including human rights initiatives. Such priorities must be determined by each country in accordance with its own needs, culture, customs, and resources. Emerging democracies require the support of the established democracies, moral, technical and financial. Institutions that evolved over decades or even centuries in other countries can not be expected to spring up over night in nascent democracies. Since adopting the National Plan of Action, the Government has made progress in implementing it. In the year 2000 the Constitution was amended guaranteeing every person freedom from discrimination, and the right to protection from discrimination. In addition to ratifying the convention against Racism and other conventions, a Standing Committee was formed in order to implement the National Plan of Action. The Government is reviewing all existing laws to ensure that they are enforced in a non discriminatory fashion, and a draft bill on the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination is now under consideration. This includes the anti terrorist legislation, passed in the aftermath of the recent attack on innocent civilians in Bali. Because Indonesia, like all members of the international community, wishes to see the terrorists brought to justice, while protecting the rights of the innocent, and so all efforts to combat terrorism must be carried out without prejudice towards any religion, ethnic group or nation. The Government of Indonesia views with great concern that globally racism seems to be rising. What is perhaps the most troublesome about this global rise in racism, is that racists would squander one of mankind’s most valuable resources, diversity. Since the founding of the Nation, the motto on the Indonesian Coat of Arms says, “Unity in Diversity”. The Founding Fathers of Indonesia realized that national development would only be meaningful if it strengthened the unity of the diverse people of the nation. The Indonesian State was founded on five principles, one of which is “a just and civilized humanity”. Embodied in that principle is a revulsion for unjust discrimination. Let me now turn to the issue of self-determination. The long suffering of the Palestinian People, which is in no small way attributable to racism, should be brought finally to an end. Indonesia believes that a settlement to this conflict requires the full withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab lands, respect for the right of all states in the region to live within secure and internationally recognized boundaries, and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the establishment of a Palestinian State with Al-Qud Al-Sharif as its capital. Similarly, world peace and prosperity can not be achieved without tolerance and respect for diversity. The UN Charter, to which we all subscribe, enjoins us “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours”. Peace and prosperity on the global level have the same requirements as peace and prosperity on the national level, that all people regardless of race, language, gender, disability or other factor be allowed to contribute to, and to benefit from, human development, and this must be one of the guiding principles that frames our vision for the future. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
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