Criticism from a friend<\/p>\n
The latest annual report on human rights surveys by the U.S.
\nState Department does not look too kindly on Indonesia's record
\nfor the past year. But the report does not differ all that much
\nfrom those by some of our own respected human rights groups.
\nMany, if not all, the violations the State Department claims were
\ncommitted by Indonesian authorities, have, at one time or
\nanother, been reported by the National Commission on Human
\nRights, the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute and
\nthe Foundation for the Center for the Study of Human Rights.<\/p>\n
That these allegations have come from a foreign government
\ncould easily invite the standard official response that it is
\nmeddling in Indonesia's domestic affairs. But these allegations
\nexist, and with or without the State Department's reminder, they
\nshould still be looked at and addressed.<\/p>\n
Although the State Department has made similar reports on the
\nhuman rights situation in Indonesia over the past year, this time
\nthe situation has changed. There are signals that Washington, in
\nits relations with other countries, will be more assertive in
\npressing for basic human rights to be respected. President Bill
\nClinton, now free from reelection worries, is expected to stand
\nfirm when it comes to human rights principles. His new Secretary
\nof State Madeleine Albright has made it clear human rights will
\nbe a hallmark of the administration's foreign policy. Although
\nshe says overall U.S. relations with another country will not be
\nheld hostage by a single issue, we can be sure that human rights
\nquestions will be even more pronounced in the bilateral relations
\nbetween Indonesia and the United States. Already, news dispatches
\nfrom Washington indicate that Assistant Secretary of State for
\nhuman rights affairs John Shattuck is planning to visit Indonesia
\nin the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
There have also been growing pressures from the U.S. congress
\nfor a more active Washington role on the question of East Timor.
\nIt is just as well Albright has served as an ambassador at the
\nUnited Nations and is therefore familiar with the current UN
\nmediation efforts to settle the East Timor question. She has
\nruled out a Washington role, at least for now, but if congress
\npressure keeps up, Indonesia must anticipate a change in the U.S.
\nposition. Pressures also come from some states. Massachusetts'
\nlawmakers are reportedly considering a selective purchasing bill
\nto deny contracts to firms doing business in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
All in all, we should take criticism from the United States as
\nan additional inducement to step up our current efforts to
\nimprove our human rights record. After all, we are talking about
\nuniversal basic rights, that cannot be deprived under any
\npretext, such as local cultures and conditions.<\/p>\n
That a foreign country as powerful as the United States and
\nalso one of Indonesia's major trading partners, has expressed
\nconcern is all the more reason for us to do something. The energy
\nand attention usually expended in denying or countering such
\ncriticism -- the United States's record is not all that spotless
\n-- would be more productively used acknowledging we have these
\nproblems and addressing them. The best response to the
\nState Department's report -- which also acknowledges progress in
\nsome areas -- is to take it as criticism from a friend.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/criticism-from-a-friend-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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