SOUTH AFRICA: INDONESIAN PRESIDENT AWARDED ORDER OF GOOD HOPE скачать в хорошем качестве

SOUTH AFRICA: INDONESIAN PRESIDENT AWARDED ORDER OF GOOD HOPE

(22 Nov 1997) English/Nat President Nelson Mandela awarded the Order of Good Hope to President Suharto of Indonesia in Cape Town on Saturday. It's the highest award that can be given to a foreigner, and was made as thanks for Indonesia's support of the A-N-C during the apartheid years. But the award has attracted criticism, mainly because of Indonesia's poor record on human rights and alleged atrocities in East Timor. Mandela has called for the release of the jailed East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao, but Indonesia has so far refused. President Mandela gave a reward for past favourson by decorating the Indonesian leader. Indonesia was one of only a few countries who strictly applied sanctions against South Africa. But giving the award to Suharto has attracted criticism due to Indonesia's poor human rights record in the East Timor region. It's the second time in a month that the Order has been given to a controversial figure, following the award to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The Order was presented during a simple ceremony which came at the end of Suharto's three-day visit to South Africa. When accepting the award, Suharto emphasised the close relations his country has had with the A-N-C movement. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) "I consider that the conferment of this order is not only an honour for me personally, but also for the Indonesian people, because both the Indonesian people and the people of South Africa, over the years and for many years, have been fighting and struggling against all kinds and forms of colonialism, that enabled us to finally become independent nations." SUPER CAPTION: President Suharto, Indonesia To deflect the criticism for giving the award, Mandela chose to highlight the influence he has on the Indonesian President. Suharto and Mandela met for an hour on Thursday to discuss the situation in East Timor and trade issues. While no details of the talks were disclosed, Mandela described them as fruitful and said he would report to U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan on what was discussed. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I have not the slightest doubt that we have made good progress with President Suharto in addressing the difficult and sensitive issue of East Timor. And this is all that concerns me, that we should continue to have breakthroughs." SUPER CAPTION: President Mandela, South Africa Despite the apparently close relations, Suharto has so far refused Mandela's calls for the release of jailed East Timor rebel leader Xanana Gusmao. Gusmao was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1994 for violent crimes linked to his rebel activities. With Suharto's permission, Mandela met with Gusmao during a visit to Indonesia in July. Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976, a year after its troops intervened in a civil war that broke out as Portugal abandoned the region it had ruled as a colony for more than four centuries. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...