Law professor wants Downer to investigate Jakarta incident
Monday 14 July, 1997 (2:24pm AEST)


A Melbourne law professor, who was refused entry into
Indonesia on the weekend, has called on Foreign
Minister, Alexander Downer, to investigate the matter. 

Professor Spencer Zifcak is the vice-president of the
Australian section of the International Commission of
Jurists.

He wanted to observe trials and the condition of
prisioners sentenced for subversion in Indonesia, but
was told to return home as soon as he arrived in Jakarta.


Professor Zifcak says the incident raises concern about
Indonesia's reaction to scrutiny of its internal legal
processes.

Professor Zifcak says if this incident represents the
Indonesian Government drawing the curtain on, what
he says appears to be savage penalties for freedon of
speech and political assembly, it is something the
Australian Government should be concerned about.