Rights body calls for policy review<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights urged
\nthe government yesterday to find a fundamental solution to bring
\nclosure to numerous unresolved rights cases which cannot be
\ntackled on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n
In a statement on various human rights cases and mass
\nlootings, the rights body said a principle solution including a
\nreview of government policies, national security doctrine and
\noperational tactics for insuring safety in the field may be
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
It pointed out that repeated rights violations in Irian Jaya,
\nEast Timor, Aceh and the unresolved Tanjung Priok and Lampung
\ncases demonstrate that the violations were systematic in nature
\nand typical of the authoritarian New Order government.<\/p>\n
\"A solution on a case-by-case basis cannot prevent (the
\nongoing) rights violations like in the three regions (Irian Jaya,
\nEast Timor, Aceh) which were the worst in the last 20 years,\"
\ncommission secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa said in reading the
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
\"There has never been a review or comprehensive solution on
\nthese systematic human rights violations.\"<\/p>\n
People have been shocked by recent revelations of a multitude
\nof rights violations, allegedly committed by the military during
\nthe 32-year rule of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Amid strong public pressure, the Armed Forces undertook an
\ninvestigation into the case of missing activists and found that
\nmembers of the Army's Special Force were involved in the
\nabductions.<\/p>\n
Rights groups have also reported atrocities including torture,
\nabductions, rape and extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated
\nby the military in Aceh during the early 1990s.<\/p>\n
The military presence was beefed up at the time to quell the
\narmed rebellion for an independent Aceh.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security Affairs\/Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto pledged last week to withdraw troops
\ndispatched from outside the westernmost province and apologized
\nfor the military's conduct which exceeded \"acceptable norms\"
\nduring the military operations.<\/p>\n
The government also withdrew troops from East Timor last month
\nand ABRI also pledged to change its approach in Irian Jaya in a
\nbid to win the hearts of people there.<\/p>\n
The rights body welcomed yesterday the recent developments but
\nnoted that a comprehensive solution to these issues would still
\nrequire fair legal and political actions, adding that \"the truth
\nmust be uncovered\".<\/p>\n
In its statement, the rights body also renewed calls for the
\ngovernment to reopen the investigation into the July 27, 1996,
\nbloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nheadquarters in Central Jakarta, which erupted into a riot.<\/p>\n
The rights body said that all people who were either directly
\nor indirectly involved in the incident should be brought before
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
While the statement said the government should cease meddling
\nin the internal matters of political and mass organizations,
\ndeputy chairman Marzuki Darusman was more direct in his
\nexplanation to reporters.<\/p>\n
\"Our hope is for the government to rescind its support for
\nSoerjadi's camp in the PDI so that the conflicting parties can
\nfind it easier to seek a solution,\" Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi ousted Megawati Soekarnoputri as party chief in a
\ngovernment-backed congress in 1996.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the controversial bill No. 2\/1998 on freedom of
\nexpression, the rights body said it saw no \"critical condition\"
\nnecessitating a new ruling regulating such freedoms.<\/p>\n
It asserted that the bill must immediately be withdrawn.<\/p>\n
The bill, which includes a requirement for a permit for a
\npublic rally involving more than 50 people, was recently
\nforwarded by the government to the House of Representatives.
\n(byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-body-calls-for-policy-review-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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