A never-ending job

A never-ending job

In discussing human rights we cannot confine ourselves to the universal concept only. Neither, however, can we stubbornly hold on solely to our own perception. The protection of human rights is guaranteed by several articles of our national Constitution. The problem -- as is also true for many other countries, including the one in which the 1948 declaration of human rights was first proclaimed -- is in the implementation.

It is not without intention that our country, Indonesia, which is based on law, endorses the protection of human rights. In the meetings of the preparatory committee for independence in the months of June and July 1945 our founding fathers, led by Bung Hatta, a champion of human rights, were aware of the need for including clauses to protect human rights in the free Indonesia they had in mind.

In December 1993 the National Commission on Human Rights was set up. As the commission's chairman Ali Said explained to Ayala- Lasso recently, it was to demonstrate its independence that the commission was not formed on the basis of any law. And in many cases indeed the commission's views diverge from those of the government, although one cannot speak of confrontation.

Still, many human rights violations have remained beyond the reach of the commission and they are likely to grow in both number and seriousness. This is what makes it all the more necessary for us to step up our efforts to uphold human rights.

-- Kompas, Jakarta