Local rights body proposed<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The East Java chapter of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) proposed on Wednesday the establishment of a regional
\ncommission on human rights to uphold human rights in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
"The establishment of such a regional commission is expected
\nto help improve the upholding of the human rights, thereby
\nconvincing foreign investors intending to enter the province,"
\nFathorrasyid, head of the PKB faction in the East Java
\nlegislative assembly, said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the establishment of such a regional
\ncommission was in no way designed to compete with the National
\nCommission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
Several cases involving human rights abuses in the regions
\nhave received only scant attention from the Jakarta-based Komnas
\nHAM, he said, adding that the national commission was frequently
\ntoo late in responding to such cases.<\/p>\n
Fathorrasyid said that members of the regional commission
\ncould be elected from among the elements of society, and should
\nbe independent and willing to undergo fit-and-proper tests in the
\nprovincial assembly.<\/p>\n
The members could be chosen from among people who were
\nconcerned with human rights, including journalists, academics and
\nmembers of non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
He said violent incidents related to various cases, including
\nlabor strikes, land confiscation and coercion by security
\npersonnel, frequently occurred in East Java.<\/p>\n
In some circumstances, he said, the security personnel
\nthemselves frequently were responsible for repressive actions
\nthat could only be classified as human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the legal defense of two PKB members who have
\nbeen detained since early August by the East Java police on
\nsuspicion of distributing antigovernment pamphlets, Fathorrasyid
\nsaid that advocacy would continue to be carried out on their
\nbehalf.<\/p>\n
He said that what was done by the two PKB members could not be
\nclassified as an attack on the government.<\/p>\n
Besides the two members of the provincial legislative council
\nfrom the PKB faction -- M. Rozak and Mustawiyanto -- six students
\nwere also detained by the East Java Police. One week later,
\nchairman of the Democratic People's Party Eusibius Purwadi was
\nalso arrested for his alleged involvement.<\/p>\n
Fathorrasyid said that by detaining them the police were
\nguilty of human rights abuses as the actions were indiscriminate
\nand lacked any order or authorization from the governor of East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
"Frankly speaking, we filed a lawsuit against the police in
\nthe Bondowoso District Court, but we lost. We're now trying to
\nexplain the case in detail to the investigators," he said.
\n(nur\/08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-rights-body-proposed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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