Rights commission needs definition<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The armed forces said yesterday that the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights should define the scope of
\nits authority to reduce potential conflicts with the government.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan
\nHamid said that the three-year-old commission is subject to
\nofficial scrutiny because it steps into the government's field of
\njurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Syarwan suggested that the commission draw up a job
\ndescription for its members.<\/p>\n
\"The job description is needed because the commission has to
\nhandle a wide range of cases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syarwan was commenting on the allegation that the rights
\ncommission has gone beyond its authority in mediating disputes.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
\nSoesilo Soedarman said at the opening of the second National
\nWorkshop on Human Rights on Wednesday that the government
\nbelieves that the rights body has been directly involved in the
\nsettlement of legal disputes and has overstepped its role as a
\nmonitoring and investigating body.<\/p>\n
He said the commission, established by presidential decree in
\n1993, is supposed to monitor only possible violations of human
\nrights, report to the relevant authorities, and issue
\nrecommendations for action.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said the armed forces do not mean to suggest that the
\ngovernment should dictate what the commission should or should
\nnot do.<\/p>\n
He added that the commission should focus not only on \"minor\"
\nproblems, but also \"major\" ones at the national level.<\/p>\n
Syarwan also praised the commission for its contribution to
\nthe protection of human rights in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The commission's findings have helped the authorities much in
\nsettling human rights problems,\" he said. \"The commission's
\nmediation in various conflicts have been effective.\"<\/p>\n
Despite many people's initial doubts about its effectiveness
\nand independence, the rights commission has slowly gained respect
\nfor objective and thorough work. It has earned praise from
\nvarious quarters, both local and foreign.<\/p>\n
Over its three years of existence, the body has handled
\nreports of a wide range of rights violations in cases ranging
\nfrom the installation of high-voltage power towers over housing
\nsettlements to murders and cases of violence by authorities, to
\npolitical disputes.<\/p>\n
The latest major issue handled by the commission is the July
\n27 riots in Jakarta. The commission concluded that five people
\nwere killed and 23 went missing. It asked the armed forces to
\ntrack down on those missing but there has been no indication that
\nthe authorities will do it. (imn)<\/p>",
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