{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1435839,
        "msgid": "effectiveness-of-rights-ministry-questioned-1447893297",
        "date": "1999-10-28 00:00:00",
        "title": "Effectiveness of rights ministry questioned",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Effectiveness of rights ministry questioned JAKARTA (JP): Rights activists have welcomed the establishment of the State Ministry of Human Rights Affairs but harbor doubts about its effectiveness. They were buoyed by the establishment of the ministry, particularly since it will be headed by Hasballah M. Saad, a noted rights activist from the troubled province of Aceh.",
        "content": "<p>Effectiveness of rights ministry questioned<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): Rights activists have welcomed the establishment<br>\nof the State Ministry of Human Rights Affairs but harbor doubts<br>\nabout its effectiveness.<\/p>\n<p>They were buoyed by the establishment of the ministry,<br>\nparticularly since it will be headed by Hasballah M. Saad, a<br>\nnoted rights activist from the troubled province of Aceh.<\/p>\n<p>\"We urge the ministry to investigate unresolved human rights<br>\ncases and hope that it doesn't turn into a political guise to<br>\npromote the new government's credibility,\" activist Ifdhal Kasim<br>\nfrom the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) said<br>\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Ifdhal cited rights violations which needed immediate<br>\nattention, such as those which occurred during the 1998 May<br>\nriots, the Semanggi and Trisakti shootings and abuses in Aceh and<br>\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n<p>Ifdhal was speaking at a joint media conference with<br>\nVolunteers for Humanity, the Jakarta Social Institute, Solidarity<br>\nForum for Aceh (Forsala) and Advocation of Human Rights in Irian<br>\nJaya.<\/p>\n<p>The groups noted that the ministry's harmonious cooperation<br>\nwith law enforcement institutions was a fundamental necessity for<br>\nit to carry out its tasks effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Spokeswoman for Volunteers for Humanity Karlina Leksono said<br>\nclarification was needed about the new minister's work to ensure<br>\nit did not overlap with the National Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n<p>Rights commission chairman Marzuki Darusman dismissed<br>\nspeculation that there would be competition between the two<br>\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n<p>\"The ministry can concentrate its work on policy-making while<br>\nthe commission can work on the ground and give recommendations to<br>\nthe government.<\/p>\n<p>\"In brief, it will smoothen the point of coordination between<br>\nthe government and the rights body which is now facing various<br>\nobstacles.\"<\/p>\n<p>A member of the commission, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, said the<br>\nestablishment of the ministry was indicated in the human rights<br>\ndecree endorsed by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in<br>\n1998.<\/p>\n<p>\"It's clearly stated that the government will be responsible<br>\nfor handling rights violations in the country so it needs a<br>\nformal institution or a ministry to manage these rights<br>\ncomplaints. The ministry will take a formal approach to handling<br>\nthe violations,\" he told The Jakarta Post. (emf\/04)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/effectiveness-of-rights-ministry-questioned-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}