TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
House calls for inquiry into U.S. lab
Members of the House of Representatives have moved to establish a special task force to investigate U
Change Size
Members of the House of Representatives have moved to establish a special task force to investigate U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2 (Namru-2).
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) proposed the interfaction fact-finding team because of allegations the U.S. laboratory is engaging in espionage and the lack of apparent benefits to Indonesia from their research, said senior PDI-P lawmaker Sidarto Danusubroto.
"We propose the House form a task force to investigate the lab to reassure the public that it isn't spying on us and that it really benefits the country," he told The Jakarta Post.
Sidarto, a member of the House's Commission I on security, defense and foreign affairs, said the team would urge the laboratory to be transparent in its operations.
Lawmaker Hakim Sorimuda Pohan of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party supported the idea, saying Indonesian scientists could take over the work of the laboratory's researchers.
"We will summon the health minister to discuss the issue further. I see no need for the lab to continue operating here," he told the Post.
Indonesia and the United States are now negotiating a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend the operation of Namru-2. The previous agreement expired in 2005.
Indonesia offered last week to grant diplomatic immunity to only two U.S. officials at Namru-2 and demanded the laboratory become more transparent.
In a response through its embassy, the United States insisted all 19 of its citizens working at Namru-2 be given diplomatic immunity.
The United States denied the laboratory lacked transparency.
Demands for Namru-2 to be closed down have been mounting in recent weeks.
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari reiterated in Semarang on Monday her call for Namru-2 to suspend operations until Indonesia and the United States had concluded the MOU.
"I have demanded there be no more activity in the lab. However, it is still conducting research and receiving specimens from a number of health centers across the country," she said.
The minister said the two countries had failed to agree on six issues, including prohibitions on Namru-2 producing biological weapons, transparency and immunity status for the laboratory's researchers.
Lawmaker Mutammimul Ula of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said he supported calls for the laboratory to close and demanded clarification on allegations it conducted intelligence activities.
State Secretary Hatta Radjasa held a press conference at the State Palace to refute accusations presidential spokesman Dino Patti Dajal had links with Namru-2 and called for an end to the speculation.
Hatta invited Siti to his office last week to explain her falling out with Dino and allegations she provided data to an NGO accusing Dino of being a foreign agent.
