Rights body won't heed foreign gripes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights is not
\ninterested in responding to foreign criticisms of the human
\nrights situation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"It is better to work on improving respect for human rights
\nthan to respond to criticisms," Secretary General of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, told The Jakarta
\nPost yesterday.<\/p>\n
Lopa made the remarks in connection with persistent criticism
\nabroad of perceived human rights abuses in Indonesia. This week,
\nactivists in Europe demonstrated their objections during
\nPresident Soeharto's visit to Germany.<\/p>\n
In the latest incident, about 100 human rights and
\nconservationist activists shouted hostile slogans as the
\nPresident arrived at Dresden castle for talks with local leaders.<\/p>\n
Lopa said that it would be useless for the commission to keep
\nengaging such criticism because Western mass media would not
\nreport on its replies.<\/p>\n
The commission was working, he said, on improving the
\nimplementation of human rights in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We keep on working, no matter whether people criticize or do
\nnot criticize Indonesia's human rights record," he said.<\/p>\n
Established by the government in 1993, the 25-member
\ncommission has received considerable applause from the local
\npublic for the steps it has taken to protect people's rights.<\/p>\n
It has played a mediating role in numerous cases involving the
\noppressed, such as unfair treatment of workers and the
\nacquisition of farmers' land for development projects.<\/p>\n
Recently, it conducted an investigation into the controversial
\nkilling by the army of six East Timorese believed to be Fretilin
\npro-independence rebels.<\/p>\n
Lopa denied suggestions that the commission had paid special
\nattention to the question of human rights in the former
\nPortuguese colony.<\/p>\n
"We pay the same attention to all people throughout the
\ncountry," he said. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-body-wont-heed-foreign-gripes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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