A delegation of US senators led by Craig Thomas (Dem. Wyoming) consisting of eleven people met members of the National Human Rights Commission and reached agreement to keep in close contact, so as to reach a common understanding on human rights and democracy.

The delegation included Allen Weinstein, Richard H Houghton, Donna Gold, Kathleen Connors, Fred F. Fielding, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Santra Taylor, John Dawkins and Anton van der Lande. (It's not clear whether they are all senators.)

In a statement to the press following the meeting, Senator Craig Thomas stressed the importance of their visit to Indonesia, especially to exchange views about human rights in this part of the world. We came here, representing the Centre for Democracy, in order to study all aspects of human rights, economic and political.'

He said the visit would open the way for cooperation and mutual assistance between non-governmental organisations. 'Bearing in mind Indonesia's importance as a member of ASEAN, we think it is very important to maintain regular contact.'

He acknowledged that they had touched on questions like Muchtar Pakpahan, Sri Bintang Pamungkas and the 27 July case, but had not gone into any detail.

Second vice-chair of Komnas HAM Marzuki Darusman said that they had reach common agreement about the need for regular contact on the question of human rights and democracy.

'It is not possible for the US to force their view of human rights and democracy on other countries. The US, France and Indonesia have different basic philosophies on these matters,' he said.

During the meeting members of Komnas HAM had stressed the importance of the US and other countries acknowledging that human rights abuses in Indonesia which are always being talked about in western societies, should not be seen as a systematic policy. Indonesia, for its part, needed to understand polic considerations in the US.

'The question of human rights violations in Indonesia and the case of Patrick Kennedy (Dem. Rhode Island) should not be considered from a narrow perspective. There is a need for mutual understanding between our two countries so as to ensure that these obstacles don't damage the relations (between the two countries). That's why we hope that when Senator Thomas returns home, the results of our discussions can be widely disseminated throughout the US and also to other members of the US Congress,' said Marzuki.