Sweden envoy praises rights commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sweden praised Indonesia's National Commission
\non Human Rights and promised to assist with a campaign to promote
\nhuman rights, yesterday.<\/p>\n
Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Michael Lindstrom delivered
\nthe praise and promise at a meeting with the commission's members
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute
\n(RWI) of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the Lund University
\nin Sweden, Goran Melander, and deputy Secretary of the Swedish
\nEmbassy Hakan Jonsson, the ambassador met newly elected
\ncommission chairman Munawir Sjadzali, deputy chairman Marzuki
\nDarusman and commission members B.N. Marbun and Saafrudin Bahar.<\/p>\n
Lindstrom said Sweden had a long history of human rights
\nprotection, dating back to the 1800s, when a group of Swedish
\nlawyers began receiving reports on human rights violations from
\nthe public.<\/p>\n
The ambassador said the assistance would come in the form of
\nexchanges of information and experience on human rights cases and
\nprotection. Sweden would also provide books on human rights
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
\"This sharing of experiences is needed since both Indonesia
\nand Sweden have differences as well similarities in human rights
\nprotection,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He denied ulterior motives for the promised assistance.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights was established by
\npresidential decree in Dec. 1993. It was initially treated with
\nskepticism from human rights activists, because it was
\ngovernment-sponsored and financed by the State Secretariat.<\/p>\n
The public gradually warmed to the commission as its members
\nhave displayed both independence and courage. Analysts now say
\nthe commission has earned so much respect and trust that people
\nnow turn to it to air their grievances rather than go to
\nlegislative councils or security officials. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sweden-envoy-praises-rights-commission-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}