Govt under fire for lack of accountability<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Government accountability is sorely lacking in
\nIndonesia, a condition that has allowed corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism to flourish almost unchecked in the country, the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Accountability in Indonesia has reached its lowest point,\"
\nthe commission said after a plenary meeting of its 25 members for
\na periodic review of the human rights situation here.<\/p>\n
\"A democratic culture requires that everyone is accountable
\nfor his\/her action,\" it said in a statement read by secretary-
\ngeneral Baharuddin Lopa.<\/p>\n
He blamed the situation on the poor control exercised by
\ngovernment institutions and the public, and on the government's
\npolicy of emphasizing economic development over political and
\nlegal developments in the last 30 years.<\/p>\n
The commission said the government, for example, should be
\nheld accountable for the current economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Without denying its efforts to advance the national economy,
\nthe government must explain the reasons for the economic and
\nmonetary crises in clear and simple language, and explain the
\nsteps it is taking to overcome the crises.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is necessary to restore people's confidence in the
\ngovernment,\" it said, adding that government officials must also
\nstop making conflicting statements that tend to insult people's
\nintelligence.<\/p>\n
The commission said the economic crisis has also exposed the
\nprecarious state of human rights in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Without pointing its finger at anyone or any group, the
\ncommission noted that during the crisis, some people tended to
\nviolate human rights, causing widespread suffering and
\nintimidation, particularly among the poor and some minority
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
It also noted widespread arbitrary actions and abuses of power
\nby certain people in the government.<\/p>\n
\"People become intimidated and are afraid of exercising their
\nnatural rights. This condition could incite violence.\"<\/p>\n
The commission said calls for people to channel their
\naspirations through existing channels became mere rhetoric
\nbecause people were rendered powerless.<\/p>\n
\"The few people who had the courage to express their concerns
\nby peaceful means were suspected (of other motives) and received
\npoor treatment.<\/p>\n
\"The human rights condition here could only be improved if
\nthere were simultaneous economic, political and law reforms.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI),
\ntraditionally a staunch government supporter, called for sweeping
\nreforms to lift Indonesia out of its present crisis.<\/p>\n
While supporting the calls for economic and political reforms,
\nKNPI said it was more imperative that any reform be targeted at
\nchanging negative characteristics.<\/p>\n
KNPI chairman Maulana Isman, who read the committee's
\nstatement, cited corruption, collusion, and nepotism as
\ncharacteristics that reform should try to eliminate.<\/p>\n
These \"human factors\" are at the root of the present crisis,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The crisis has led to people losing confidence in the
\ngovernment and the only way to regain their confidence is through
\nreforms in politics, economics and eradicating negative
\ncharacteristics.<\/p>\n
KNPI is an umbrella organization for more than 60 youth
\norganizations. (byg\/aan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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