Indonesia -- Expulsion of International Crisis Group Staff

We understand that the Indonesian Government has asked the Director of International Crisis Group’s Jakarta office, Sidney Jones, and an additional member on her staff to leave the country.

We are very concerned about this development. Ms. Jones is a highly respected policy analyst, and we are not aware of any actions by her or other members of her organization that would warrant any such step by Indonesia. Such expulsions would be particularly disappointing because this would stand in stark contrast to the impressive progress made by Indonesia in recent years in developing a democratic civil society with freedom of expression.

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