Yap Thian Hiem award suspended<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
At the very least, the Yap Thiam Hien Award has validated the
\nwork of human rights defenders in this country.<\/p>\n
However, there is a possibility that the prestigious annual
\naward presentation will be absent this year, due to financial
\nconstraints.<\/p>\n
In a press statement made available to The Jakarta Post, the
\ncommittee said there would be no Yap Thiam Hien Award
\npresentation this year. The presentation used to coincide with
\nthe commemoration of International Human Rights Day that falls on
\nDec. 10.<\/p>\n
Noted lawyer and human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, who
\nis a member of the committee board, said there were not enough
\nfunds available to carry on the tradition.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, all activities related to the Yap Thiam Hien Award
\n2005, such as the selection process, publication and award
\nceremony, cannot be held either,\" said the statement, dated Dec.
\n2.<\/p>\n
Todung, however, refused to comment on Monday, saying the
\nissue was still being discussed.<\/p>\n
\"It's not been decided yet,\" he told the Post, adding that
\nthere would be an official statement issued.<\/p>\n
Named after the uncompromising human rights advocate who died
\nin 1989, the award was first given in 1992. Aside from a trophy,
\nthe winner is also given a cash prize, which last year amounted
\nto Rp 50 million (around US$5,000).<\/p>\n
Past winners include the late labor activist Marsinah, who was
\nawarded posthumously, the late rights activist Munir, the Urban
\nPoor Consortium, and anti-discrimination activist Ester Jusuf
\nPurba.<\/p>\n
Over the past three years, however, sponsorship from a number
\nof multinational companies has sparked criticism, including from
\nthe awardees themselves.<\/p>\n
Last year, the family of a past winner, the late artist Wiji
\nThukul, expressed their objection to the award being funded by
\nmining giant Rio Tinto, saying the company was involved in
\nseveral human rights violations, evictions and environmental
\ndestruction.<\/p>\n
Rio Tinto's communication officer Anang R. Noor told the Post
\nthat despite the criticism, the company would never retract its
\nsponsorship. This year, however, the Australian-based company
\nsays it never received a funding proposal from the committee.<\/p>\n
\"Last year, we received the proposal from the committee in the
\nfasting month, or around November. But so far, there has been no
\nproposal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Past awardees were concerned that the award would not made
\nthis year, as aside from recognition of the works of human
\nrights, the award has pushed marginalized human rights issues to
\nthe surface.<\/p>\n
Ester, who was among the 2001 awardees, said the award had
\nraised the problems of racial discrimination and inspired young
\npeople to work harder in upholding human rights.<\/p>\n
\"If it is true that financial constraints are the reason, then
\nthat's unfortunate,\" she said.<\/p>\n
One of last year's winners, Kompas newspaper journalist Maria
\nHartiningsih, said it was better to give the event a miss this
\nyear rather than holding it without a good preparation.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know about the financial constraints. But there was
\nan impression in the past that it was organized hastily,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yap-thian-hiem-award-suspended-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}