Friday, March 7, 2008

House rejects new Junta's ambassador


The House of Representatives has rejected a new envoy to Indonesia from military junta-ruled Burma, while civil society groups are skeptical of a constitutional referendum planned there.

The decision was made Thursday at a consultation meeting of House leaders led by speaker Agung Laksono.

Agung was quoted by Antara as saying the House recommended the government postpone accepting I Nyan Lin as Burma's new ambassador to Indonesia until democracy was established in the country.

The Indonesian government should accept the new envoy only after the junta manages to ensure democratic elections and reconcile with pro-democracy groups, particularly the one led by detained Aung San Suu Kyi, Agung said.

The meeting discussed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's request for the House's opinions on three new foreign ambassadors: Ibrahim Baba from Nigeria, Hamdi Ould from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and I Nyan Lin from Burma.

Indonesian law allows the House to recommend approval or rejection of foreign envoys set for assignment in the country.

The Thursday forum, attended by House leaders and all its faction heads, accepted Ibrahim and Hamdi but rejected Nyan Lin...........( read more: click title)

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