Our rights record<\/p>\n
Indonesia will take part in the worldwide National Plan of
\nAction for human rights as United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
\nAnnan announced recently. The program, according to Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, is part of the
\ncommemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1948 Universal
\nDeclaration of Human Rights next year. The UN chief also urged
\nall countries to improve their respective human rights records.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which witnessed appalling violations of human
\nrights last year, involving many sectors of society, managed to
\nimprove its human rights record this year.<\/p>\n
The most serious human rights violations this year took place
\nduring the general election campaign in May. According to the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights, this was caused by public
\nanger, political contenders' failure to control supporters,
\nwidening social disparity and political injustice. At least 123
\npeople were killed in a riot in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan,
\nmost trapped inside a burning shopping center.<\/p>\n
The year was also marred by the banning of a drama about
\nMarsinah, a heroic slain labor activist. The play was due to be
\nstaged in Surabaya, East Java, and Bandung, West Java, before it
\nwas banned by police.<\/p>\n
It was first believed the play was banned in Surabaya due to
\nthe sensitivity surrounding Marsinah's murder there in 1993,
\nwhich is still shrouded in mystery. Marsinah died after being
\narrested by security officers.<\/p>\n
The ban upset the public -- notably members of the House of
\nRepresentatives -- and enraged theater lovers. Legislators said
\nthe ban was a disgrace. They said the nation's image could be
\ntarnished by the police action. They also said the officers
\nresponsible for the ban should be punished.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, in a meeting with
\nHouse members, called for an explanation of the police ban.
\nNational Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo later said that security
\nofficers imposed the ban in Surabaya because organizers could not
\nproduce any permit for the show. He said the decision was made
\nmerely on security grounds.<\/p>\n
Many people failed to understand the logic of his statement at
\nfirst. It was clear in their minds that in 1995 the National
\nPolice chief issued a directive stipulating that cultural events,
\nincluding musicals, dance, poetry, opera, pantomimes and plays,
\ndid not require police permission or prior notification. How
\ncould police trespass on their own directive?<\/p>\n
The banning of the drama for security reasons suggests the
\nprinciple of the presumption of innocence has ceased to have a
\nmeaning in this country. It is also a naked violation of human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
But the action reminds people of the police banning of
\nseminars and political meetings several years ago on the basis of
\nthe outdated law, which was used by the Dutch colonial
\nauthorities to ban gatherings by nationalists.<\/p>\n
The government however has decided to join the UN National
\nPlan of Action and boost its human rights record here.<\/p>\n
But if freedom of expression continues to be treated this way,
\nand bannings continue to be tolerated, this country will only
\nfind itself ostracized by other civilized nations.<\/p>",
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