Human rights integral for reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of political parties said over
\nthe weekend that the protection of human rights was inseparable
\nin the campaign for total reform.<\/p>\n
The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) and the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) said improving the protection of human rights
\nrequired the reestablishment of sovereignty of the people.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairwoman of the PKB Chofifah Indar Parawansa, on
\nSunday agreed that redistribution of power was necessary to help
\nprotect human rights and could be achieved by amending the 1945
\nConstitution, formerly considered a taboo subject.<\/p>\n
"How could this country be a state based on law if the
\nconstitution gives too much a power to the president, while only
\ngranting a small amount of power to the judiciary?" she said.<\/p>\n
Chofifah said the protection of human rights would take time.<\/p>\n
"It will not be successful if current pro-status quo forces
\nremain in power," she said, citing the unfinished probe into the
\nshooting of four students on May 12 last year at Trisakti
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
Maintenance of human rights would only happen if the country
\ncould attract "people with integrity" into the area of law
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
"And that must be advocated by the proreform forces," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Chofifah said her party would campaign among other things for
\nthe protection of rights of citizens to choose their religion,
\ncitizens' rights to ownership, the right to express opinion, the
\nguarantee of security.<\/p>\n
PKB's platform states the party aims for a "democratic and
\negalitarian" society, "in which all citizens have equal access
\nand opportunity to freely develop their individualities."<\/p>\n
Chofifah added, "The party will fight to allow the formulation
\nof necessary policies to allow those rights to be protected."<\/p>\n
The Crescent Star Party (PBB) has explicitly stated the
\nnecessity for amendments to the constitution, such as limiting
\nthe power of the presidency.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the PKP Sutradara Ginting said on Friday
\nthat higher human rights protection required the reestablishment
\nof people's sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Balance<\/p>\n
Ginting said it was not simply a matter of drawing up the
\nnecessary legislation, but also "the empowerment of society" to
\nsee such legislation implemented.<\/p>\n
"Our public officers have been notorious for their low
\naccountability, so it is not simply the matter of laws but also
\nthe matter of their enforcement."<\/p>\n
Human rights protection would become embedded once a balance
\nof power existed among the executive, the judiciary and the
\nlegislative bodies, he said.<\/p>\n
"Public accountability must be upheld, because it is a matter
\nof justice... and without justice, supremacy of the law is
\nimpossible to uphold."<\/p>\n
Citing citizens' right to safety, he said many who had fled
\nahead of the elections should not be labeled "antinationalistic".<\/p>\n
"It reflects the government's inability to provide security to
\ncitizens and create harmony within the society... it's a failure
\nto uphold human rights."<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the Islamic Community Party (PUI)
\nDeliar Noer said on Friday the party considered the issue of
\nhuman rights protection as "more a matter of willingness" from
\nthe coming new government.<\/p>\n
Deliar said party legislators would study all relevant laws to
\nseek a review if necessary.<\/p>\n
"We'll work together with the Committee for Missing Persons
\nand Victims of Violence, the Legal Aid Foundation and the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights to help find roots of
\n(rights-related) problems," he said.<\/p>\n
Deliar said the party was yet to work out a detailed agenda on
\nhuman rights.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Tohap Simanungkalit, chairman of the National Labor
\nParty (PBN), spoke about labor rights protection.<\/p>\n
He said the party would fight for industrial workers' salary
\nto be specified by a law, instead of the current government
\nregulation which many perceive as ineffective.<\/p>\n
He said the regional minimum wage should no longer be based on
\nworkers' minimum physical needs, but should be based on a
\npercentage of the total production cost.<\/p>\n
PBN would fight for the right of workers to receive at least
\n20 percent of the total production cost toward their salary, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The party would also fight for the eradication of illegal
\nlevies imposed on businesspeople, which eventually led to a "high
\ncost economy" sacrificing workers' salary. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/human-rights-integral-for-reform-1447893297",
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