House backs UN convention approval<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives for the first time
\nused its right of initiative yesterday to set forth a motion for
\nthe ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture
\nsigned by the government a decade ago.<\/p>\n
All four House factions in a plenary session chaired by Lt.
\nGen. Hari Sabarno fully endorsed plans to ratify the convention.<\/p>\n
Golkar legislator Abu Hasan Sazili said after the session that
\nthe House used its right of initiative because the government had
\nyet to propose the ratification of the convention.<\/p>\n
The ratification is urgent because of rampant abuse of human
\nrights in the country, he said.<\/p>\n
\"It is no secret that many people have been arbitrarily
\nmistreated, forced to lie on ice blocks and, even worse, raped in
\ninterrogation rooms by those who actually should protect them.
\nMany others have been abducted for having different opinions and
\npolitical views.\"<\/p>\n
Stories of electrical shocks and being forced to sleep atop
\nice blocks were recently recounted by activists who were
\nkidnapped by a well-organized group.<\/p>\n
The UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
\nDegrading Treatment or Punishment was ratified in 1948 by the UN
\nGeneral Assembly as a protocol of the Declaration of Universal
\nHuman Rights.<\/p>\n
Sazili conceded that the use of the House's right of
\ninitiative was long overdue, particularly since the government
\nsigned it on Oct. 23, 1985.<\/p>\n
\"Late it may be, but it is better than doing nothing,\" he
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
He said the House would now ask the government to appoint a
\nteam, expected from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss
\nthe convention with the House.<\/p>\n
\"The discussion is expected to begin before the end of this
\nmonth,\" he said, adding that \"the House hopes the convention can
\nbe ratified next month\".<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie last month kicked off a five-year
\nNational Action Plan on Human Rights in an attempt to better
\nIndonesia's much maligned international image on rights issues.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, the government will speed up its efforts
\nto promote human rights awareness both among citizens and
\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
Two other major conventions yet to be signed by the government
\nare the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
\nRights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
\nRights. (rms)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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