Govt and people must work together on rights<\/p>\n
A survey has found that police officers top the list of human
\nrights abusers in Indonesia. Noted rights activist Todung Mulya
\nLubis, who supervised the survey, discussed the issue with The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Question How accurate was the data you made public last week?<\/p>\n
Answer: The data was based on printed media reports throughout
\nthe country tabulated by the Center for Human Rights Studies. It
\nrefers only to political and civil rights violations committed
\nduring January 1995 to March 1996. There were 194 violations,
\nincluding violations of freedom of speech, freedom of thinking,
\nand freedom of gathering and forming an organization.<\/p>\n
The victims, therefore, varied from political figures to
\npublic figures, both individuals and groups. Their activities
\nwere curtailed, including art exhibitions and performances, press
\nand other professional activities, oratories, demonstrations and
\ngoing abroad.<\/p>\n
The violators also came from different government institutions
\nincluding police officers, university chancellors, officials of
\nthe attorney offices, political and social offices and of
\nregional government level and below.<\/p>\n
Actually, it's not the only data the center has. Reported
\nviolations on labor and land disputes were no less alarming.
\nDuring 1995, the center recorded 1,129 cases of this type.<\/p>\n
Q: What can you see from this?<\/p>\n
A: There are at least three things. First of all, the
\nunderstanding of human rights among government officials,
\nespecially those in charge of law enforcement, is inequitable.
\nTherefore, something has to be done to improve it. I'm quite sure
\nthat it will reduce the number of human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Second, strict and consistent enforcement of the law is
\nnecessary to prevent more human rights violations, either by
\ngovernment officials or common members of society. Such an
\nenforcement will force people to think carefully before doing
\nanything that may violate human rights.<\/p>\n
Third, human rights awareness has to be made as a parameter
\nfor government officials' promotion. In deciding whether to
\npromote a police officer, for example, the officer's level of
\nrespect toward human rights must be considered.<\/p>\n
Q: It seems that the government plays an important role in
\nthis business of protecting human rights ...<\/p>\n
A: The state, along with its officials, is the biggest
\norganized power. It has a very wide range of coverage. That's why
\nit's also the state -- through its officials -- that has the
\ngreatest potential to commit human rights violations.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it's also the state which has the most
\npotential power to prevent human rights abuses. It's the state
\nwhich has the judiciary institutions. It's the state which has
\nthe police officers. It's also the state which runs the attorney
\noffices.<\/p>\n
The government, therefore, is supposed to function as the
\nprime guardian of human rights for its citizens.<\/p>\n
Q: Is there anything the society can do about it?<\/p>\n
A: Of course. The society has to be more active in socializing
\nhuman rights among them and help government officials to reduce
\nthe number of human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Here, the role of public figures, including religious ones, is
\nquite instrumental, because feudalism and paternalism are still
\npart of our lives.<\/p>\n
Q: Where is the position of the National Commission on Human
\nRights then?<\/p>\n
A: The commission has a mandatory task to socialize human
\nrights among the society and government officials, to assume a
\nrole as a fact-finding and investigative body, and to forge
\ncooperation with other local and international human rights
\ngroups or institutions.<\/p>\n
The commission plays a unique role here, because it was
\nfounded through a presidential decree, while it has to work in a
\nsociety where human rights have been taken for granted in the
\nlife of the nation and the government.<\/p>\n
Q: The government likes to say that human rights issues are
\noften used as weapons to attack developing countries, including
\nIndonesia ...<\/p>\n
A: Such an issue can indeed be exploited politically. If
\nsomeone says that human rights are another form of economic
\nprotection for a developed country, it's true to some extent. We
\nnevertheless cannot deny that human rights movements are
\nspringing up everywhere.<\/p>\n
When a free market economic system emerged as a result of the
\ndemise of communism, human rights became an unseparated part of
\nthat system. It's quite reasonable, because the soul of the free
\nmarket is equality of opportunity and the existence of fair play.<\/p>\n
Q: So, what do you think is the best way to face such a
\nproblem?<\/p>\n
A: We have to be careful in handling critical remarks
\nregarding human rights violations. Yet, we have to remember that
\nhandling the remarks doesn't eradicate our constitutional
\nresponsibility to protect human rights. Fighting back in rhetoric
\nwithout doing anything about what is being criticized won't do
\nany good.<\/p>\n
The fact that the remarks are made by a country in which human
\nrights violations also exist doesn't mean that we can do the same
\nthing, can we? (saw)<\/p>\n
Dr. Todung Mulya Lubis is chairman of the Center for Human
\nRights Studies and a corporate lawyer based in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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