Rights body members want credible, professional chief<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is facing
\nmounting internal pressure to elect a chairperson who is capable
\nof restoring its image as a credible institution.<\/p>\n
Whoever is elected as the commission's new chairperson on
\nThursday should focus on efforts to stop the rights body from
\nsiding with state authorities, several commission members told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin Wahid and M. M. Billah, both Komnas HAM members,
\nagreed that the new commission chief must be credible,
\nindependent, professional and experienced in handling human
\nrights cases.<\/p>\n
Those with a bad track record, including several reelected
\nmembers of the Komnas HAM, should be prevented from taking the
\ntop position in the once-esteemed commission, they added. Both
\nSolahuddin and Billah declined to specify any names.<\/p>\n
Some Komnas HAM members and other human rights activists from
\nnon-governmental organizations have nominated respected human
\nrights lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara for the chairmanship
\nin place of Djoko Sugianto, who is currently the chair of Komnas
\nHam and serving his third term as a member of the commission.<\/p>\n
Garuda is standing in for Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril
\nSabirin, who was recently acquitted of corruption charges by the
\nJakarta High Court.<\/p>\n
Also on the list of strong contenders are Solahuddin, a
\nprominent Muslim scholar from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Billah of the
\nCommission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
\nand Achmad Ali, a legal expert from Hasanuddin University in the
\nSouth Sulawesi capital of Makassar.<\/p>\n
The election will be held on Thursday in two rounds. In the
\nfirst round each of the 23 Komnas HAM members selects two names
\nfor the top post in the commission. Those who win at least 12
\nvotes will contest the run-off.<\/p>\n
Retired military general Syamsuddin, retired police general
\nKoesparmono Irsan and Syafruddin Bahar, who was once involved in
\nthe notorious security and order restoration operation command
\nled by Gen. (ret.) Sudomo, are also likely to contest the
\nleadership race.<\/p>\n
Sources within the Komnas HAM called for a vote against the
\nthree figures, who have past links with security authorities, and
\nDjoko in order to boost the commission's credibility.<\/p>\n
Djoko has been criticized for failing to perform well while
\nheading the commission.<\/p>\n
Billah and Solahuddin admitted the commission has been under
\nspotlight for failing to serve the public interests in overcoming
\nhuman rights abuses linked to military and police.<\/p>\n
\"Such an impression is so strong that Komnas HAM lacks
\nindependence in undertaking its duties,\" said Solahuddin, a
\nyounger brother of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the unresolved cases of Trisakti and
\nSemanggi tragedies in 1998 and 1999 respectively, the Tanjung
\nPriok massacre in 1984 and last year's murder of Papua separatist
\nleader Theys Hiyo Eluay. Many have blamed security forces for the
\nincidents.<\/p>\n
\"In resolving those cases, the Komnas HAM has appeared to be
\ntoothless and partisan and has instead become a tool of state
\ninstitutions,\" Solahuddin said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that under the new leadership the commission draw
\nup priorities so that investigation into those human rights
\ntragedies could be reopened.<\/p>\n
Billah said that during recent years, the commission seemed to
\nfavor the security authorities when it came to reaching crucial
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
Both Billah and Solahuddin were of the opinion that apart from
\nits partiality, internal friction within Komnas HAM was also to
\nblame for the commission's eroding credibility.<\/p>",
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