Assembly okays draft on human rights<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A People's Consultative Assembly team completed
\na draft on human rights protection yesterday to be incorporated
\nin the 1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
But one of the team members, Ismunandar, said the Assembly's
\napproval of the draft did not put a stop to a motion for a
\nseparate and more powerful decree on human rights jointly lodged
\nby the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
\"The endorsement is indeed progress, but the deliberation of
\nthe PPP and PDI's bid continues. The two factions still insist
\nthat the Assembly establish a decree on human rights, in addition
\nto the inclusion of human rights protection in the State Policy
\nGuidelines,\" Ismunandar of PDI said.<\/p>\n
The seven-point draft confirms Indonesia's recognition of
\nbasic rights for its people, which includes the right to
\ndevelopment, to worship, and to have a family.<\/p>\n
In exchange for the acknowledgment of the rights, the people
\nbear responsibilities for the exercise of the rights, according
\nto the draft.<\/p>\n
It suggests that the government ratify the 1948 Universal
\nDeclaration of Human Rights and other related international
\ncovenants, and enforce the law to ensure the rights protection.<\/p>\n
Ismunandar said a separate decree on human rights would serve
\nas the umbrella for related laws and as the legal basis for a
\nreview of laws which may be prone to rights abuses.<\/p>\n
\"A decree on human rights is of universal necessity,
\nparticularly because Indonesia has come under international
\nscrutiny for its human rights record,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The dominant Golkar faction suggested Wednesday that the
\nAssembly introduce a section on human rights protection in the
\nState Policy Guidelines, rather than establish a separate decree.<\/p>\n
Golkar representative Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana said the new
\nhuman rights section would be included in the section on legal
\ndevelopment affairs.<\/p>\n
A member of the Assembly committee in charge of State Policy
\nGuidelines, Soedarjanto, said yesterday the committee was
\ndeliberating Golkar's five-point draft on human rights
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, the draft is almost the same as the one approved
\nby our colleagues in the other committee. We consider combining
\nthem and putting them in the legal development section,\" said
\nSoedarjanto, also from PDI.<\/p>\n
PPP representative, Aisyah Amini, said the Moslem-based
\nfaction would demand an exclusive section on human rights
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
\"Human rights protection is not always related to law
\nenforcement. It has more relevance to people's understanding of
\ntheir rights,\" said Aisyah, who is also a member of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, the Assembly ad hoc committee in charge of
\nnonstate policy guidelines continued its deliberation of PPP and
\nPDI's proposal on sociopolitical organizations.<\/p>\n
Committee chairman Wiranto said the committee had yet to reach
\nan agreement on the minority factions' demand for a review of the
\ngovernment's floating mass policy, thanks to opposition by
\nGolkar, the Armed Forces and the regional representatives
\nfactions.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said the committee members resolved to seek
\ncompromises in a lobby, scheduled for today.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will enter a recess after today's session, and
\nresume work on Jan. 6 next year. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assembly-okays-draft-on-human-rights-1447893297",
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