Komnas HAM urged to be transparent<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
\nHAM) has been told to be more transparent regarding it's
\nactivities in order to gain public faith in it's independence,
\nresults of investigations released on Tuesday recommended.<\/p>\n
The New Delhi-based South Asia Human Rights Documentation
\nCentre (SAHRDC) revealed that the commission lacked transparency
\nregarding its meetings with government or military officials in
\nrelation to inquiries.<\/p>\n
SAHRDC director Ravi Nair said that it is important for the
\ncommission to make sure that the results of meetings are
\naccessible for the public to allay fears of compromise with the
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
\"Our interviews with several non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs) here, including those who had filed complaints with the
\ncommission and those who refused to file any, revealed their
\nmistrust of the commission's performance and independence,\" Nair
\ntold a discussion held by the Institute for Human Rights Research
\nand Advocacy (ELSAM) here.<\/p>\n
He cited a media report stating that the commission had met
\nmilitary officials asking for clearance prior to submitting the
\nfirst report of their inquiry into the Tanjung Priok case to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Komnas HAM member Gen. (ret) Samsudin rejected the report,
\nsaying that they merely approached the military about their plans
\nto question some officers connected with the 1984 clash between
\nthe military and local residents.<\/p>\n
\"But some NGOs had accused us of bargaining with the
\nmilitary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nair also pointed out that the commission should ask the
\ngovernment to allocate a larger budget than US$250,000 a year to
\ncarry out their activities in this vast country which has been
\nprone to human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
\"Compared to other country's rights commissions, your budget
\nis the lowest. You must lobby the legislators to raise the
\ncommission's budget ... ,\" he insisted.<\/p>\n
The documentation center also recommended that legislators
\nshould not nominate people affiliated with political parties to
\nthe commission members to safeguard doubt of it's independence.<\/p>\n
SAHRDC also suggested that the rights commission carry out an
\nin-depth study into the people's social and economic rights,
\nwhich have long been denied by the government, including the
\nconnection between the country's debts with children's education.<\/p>\n
However, commission member Emil Salim said that it's not an
\neasy task to ask the government to raise the commission's funds
\nor to further screen the commission members.<\/p>\n
\"In reality, it's difficult to act in accordance with your
\nrecommendations. The budget is not there, neither is the skill or
\nthe capacity. We face a lot of constraints in keeping our
\nactivities going,\" he said. (bby)<\/p>",
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