DPR to OK civil rights covenant<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives has agreed to ratify the
\ninternational covenant on civil and political rights with an
\nadjustment that will ensure its enactment will not justify any
\nseparatist movements.<\/p>\n
At the same hearing with acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra on Monday, House Commission I on
\ninternational affairs also expressed support for ratification of
\nthe international covenant on economic, social and cultural
\nrights.<\/p>\n
The government has proposed an amendment to Article 1 of the
\ncovenant on civil and political rights, which recognizes people's
\nright to self-determination.<\/p>\n
The amendment says the self-determination right does not apply
\nto the people within an independent and sovereign country and
\nshall not render justification for acts to undermine territorial
\nintegrity of a sovereign country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has signed a peace agreement with the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) to end three decades of secessionism in the
\nprovince. The country is still plagued by lower levels of
\nseparatist activity in Papua. Both provinces are rich in natural
\nresources but have suffered from injustice and human rights
\nabuses.<\/p>\n
State Secretary Yusril, representing foreign minister Hassan
\nWirayuda who is on a visit to South Africa with Vice President
\nJusuf Kalla, said over 50 countries had ratified the covenant on
\ncivil and political rights with a condition regarding Article 1.<\/p>\n
In response to the government's proposal, the Prosperous
\nJustice Party (PKS) faction suggested that the article on self-
\ndetermination right be declared inapplicable for fear that it
\nmight spark more separatist movements.<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction said the
\nratification of the two covenants should be followed up by
\nrevision of legislation and regulations that go against the
\ninternational treaties, particularly the controversial
\npresidential decree on land acquisition for public infrastructure
\nthat was issued by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
PKB spokesman Muhammad A.S. Hikam also suggested that the
\ncovenant on civil and political rights justified the elimination
\nof the death penalty in the country, saying it violates human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
Four convicts have been executed over the last year, and two
\nmore are likely to face a firing squad in Padang, West Sumatra
\nafter they exhaust all their legal avenues.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpr-to-ok-civil-rights-covenant-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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