Military issues rights booklet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers and experts hailed the introduction of
\na new booklet specifying the military's position on human rights.<\/p>\n
The booklet, issued by the Irian Jaya military commander Maj.
\nGen. Dunidja and to be implemented within the province, is
\nexpected to serve as a directive for soldiers.<\/p>\n
The booklet aims to reduce complaints about human rights
\nviolations by military personnel, Kompas daily reported.<\/p>\n
The booklet was issued a week after a military court in the
\nIrian Jaya capital of Jayapura sentenced four soldiers to between
\none and three years in jail for killing three Timika villagers.<\/p>\n
The National Commission for Human Rights welcomed the booklet
\nand hoped it would help prevent human rights abuses by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
The commission is confident the booklet will be well-received
\nby the Armed Forces' leadership, and will ensure it is used in
\nother provinces as well.<\/p>\n
The 15-page booklet contains instructions on what to do and
\nhow to behave professionally when dealing with the public. The
\nfirst point refers to the United Nations Declaration of Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's military has a sociopolitical role in addition to
\nthe conventional security function.<\/p>\n
Mulyana W. Kusumah, executive director of the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Foundation, said he believed the booklet, if followed, could
\nlimit misconduct by soldiers.<\/p>\n
\"When strictly enforced, I'm sure that cases of maltreatment
\nwill be tremendously reduced,\" he told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
To foster change, Mulyana said, the military should issue the
\nbooklet to each local military jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Mulyana, however, stressed the importance of the military
\nabiding by the 1985 international convention against torture. The
\nconvention was ratified by the government.<\/p>\n
Some parties are skeptical that the booklet will make a
\ndifference.<\/p>\n
Abdul Hakim Garuda Nasution, executive director of ELSAM, a
\nnon-governmental advocacy organization, challenges the Armed
\nForces to actually adopt the directives and not treat the booklet
\nas a political gimmick.<\/p>\n
The military has been toying with the idea of writing a manual
\non human rights ever since reports of human rights violations by
\nsoldiers became more frequent, he said.<\/p>\n
Roekmini Soedjono, a retired police general who is also a
\nmember of the human rights commission, said she hoped the booklet
\nwill serve as a moral guide for soldiers.(14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-issues-rights-booklet-1447893297",
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