Rights Commission's independence<\/p>\n
When it was launched in 1993, many people who wanted a speedy
\nestablishment of democracy tended to scoff at the National
\nCommission on Human Rights. It was very much felt that the
\nCommission was formed -- by the government, not by independent
\nparties as is usually the case elsewhere -- above all to
\naccommodate international pressures, coming from donor
\ninstitutions in particular.<\/p>\n
The public in general, however, seems to be of a different
\nopinion. Realizing that an institution now existed that was
\nwilling to listen to, and perhaps to take steps to follow up
\ntheir complaints, they -- ordinary people whose property was
\nappropriated, land owners who were evicted and paid only a
\nnegligible sum in compensation, or workers who were ill treated
\nby their employers -- came to the Commission to air their
\ncomplaints.<\/p>\n
Naturally this phenomenon is gratifying from the point of view
\nof this nation's democratic ideals. At the same time it is
\ndisheartening because it is an indication of the public's
\ndistrust in and the inadequacy of that bigger, permanent,
\nconstitutionally assigned and older institution: the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
The fact that the larger part of complaints come from the
\nprovinces is all the more an indication that at the provincial
\nlevel the work of the legislative council is much more
\ndistressing.<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-commissions-independence-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }