Agus says TNI rejects human rights training<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The international workshop on crimes against
\nhumanity ended on Thursday in controversy over the need to adopt
\nhuman rights principles in the military.<\/p>\n
It was the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of territorial
\naffairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo who sparked the debate, saying that
\nsoldiers do not need human rights training since it could create
\n"confusion" while undertaking their duties.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the workshop, Agus rejected suggestions coming
\nfrom the floor, that supported the adoption of an international
\nconvention which allows soldiers to refuse "unlawful orders" from
\ntheir immediate commander, allowing them to escape prosecution
\nfor violating any laws.<\/p>\n
"Soldiers cannot refuse to carry out an order from their
\ncommander because they are not trained to think. All thinking is
\ndone by their commanders," he told the workshop which began on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
"What we need to better the situation is to create regulations
\nwhich limit the military by imposing perimeters on each military
\noperation. The military always complies with the law."<\/p>\n
TNI, as well as National Police, has added human rights to the
\ncurriculum for military cadets.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has partially adopted the convention in Law No.
\n26\/2000 on Human Rights Tribunals, which stipulates that
\ncommanders can stand trial for crimes against humanity for any
\nhuman rights violations committed by their troops.<\/p>\n
Agus was speaking in a session discussing the military command
\nresponsibility related to human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Also speaking in the session were Indonesian lawyer Todung
\nMulya Lubis, Judge Lennart Aspegren of Sweden, Maj. Gen. Arne
\nWilly Dahl of Norway and law professor Francoise Hampson of
\nBritain.<\/p>\n
They concluded that commanders -- both in military and civil
\ninstitutions -- are to be held responsible for any rights abuse
\nperpetrated by their men and that such cases should be brought to
\nhuman rights tribunals.<\/p>\n
But they acknowledged that in Indonesia, the military command
\nresponsibility always refers to military law which gives impunity
\nto the commander regardless of the law on human rights tribunals.<\/p>\n
Upon opening the workshop on Wednesday, President Abdurrahman
\nWahid renewed his condemnation of human rights abuses, many of
\nwhich involved military and police.<\/p>\n
In response to Agus' view, secretary-general of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights Asmara Nababan underlined the fact
\nthat soldiers have been equipped with human rights pocket books.<\/p>\n
"Soldiers are human, they need to think. I think there should
\nbe a balance between a firm chain of command and acknowledgement
\nof the soldiers' humanity," he said after the closing of the
\nworkshop.<\/p>\n
The workshop also ended with a proposal to form a working
\ngroup comprising police, military, judges, prosecutors, lawyers
\nand the rights commission members to work on an addendum to the
\nlaw on human rights tribunals.<\/p>\n
Rights activist Soetandyo Wignjosoebroto said the result of
\nthe workshop would be submitted to the government for further
\nimplementation, including the ratification of the International
\nCriminal Code statute on the prosecution of human rights
\natrocities.(bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/agus-says-tni-rejects-human-rights-training-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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