DPR Asks for Namru-2 to Be Closed
Monday, 28 April, 2008 | 14:34 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The House of Representatives (DPR) is asking for the laboratory for contagious diseases owned by the United States' Naval Medical Research Unit Two, or Namru-2, to be closed while waiting for a new agreement.

This statement was made by Ripka Ciptaning, head of the DPR Health Commission.

Ripka also said that the government was slow in responding to the Namru-2 case.

“There should have been firm action right after the agreement was ended,” he said.

The agreement ended in 2005.

Some six months ago, the Indonesian government sent new items for further agreement to the United States, but there has been no response.

In a new memorandum of agreement, Indonesia will requests several changes including a clause about a material transfer agreement for virus samples since April this year.

In addition, there has be certainty that Namru will not be using the virus samples for biological weapon, greater transparent, and the removal of diplomatic immunity for the entire staff.

The Health Minister is suspicious that Namru-2 will use the virus samples for commercial purposes.

“The virus samples will apparently be sold to Hong Kong and other countries as vaccines,” she said in Jakarta yesterday.

Last week, the American ambassador for Indonesia, Cameron R. Hume, said he was certain that Namru would only work for disease research.

Regarding diplomatic immunity, Hume said that the status of the staff was different to the status of diplomats.

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