ABRI faulted for unsolved rights cases

ABRI faulted for unsolved rights cases

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights
attributes poor human rights protection in 1998 and the backlog
of unresolved violations to the Armed Forces (ABRI) perceived
inability to act and its sorry public image.

In its assessment released on Wednesday on the country's human
rights record last year, the commission reminded President B.J.
Habibie's administration that human rights protection and
promotion were its responsibility. It also questioned why
security personnel and law enforcement agents were unable to
resolve gross violations of human rights.

In a statement read by Clementino dos Reis Amaral, the
commission said it tried to fathom why "the Armed Forces (ABRI)
appeared to be helpless in overcoming violence and ending...
uncertainty about causes and background of violence".

The commission noted that unless cases of violations were
followed up with just and speedy legal process, public
frustration could boil over into more violence.

"The responsibility is again on the shoulders of the Armed
Forces, which is seemingly powerless," the commission said.

The announcement followed a plenary session led by chairman
Marzuki Darusman, who was also present during the news
conference. Also attending were commission members Bambang W.
Soeharto and H.R. Djoko Soegianto.

The commission noted that "ABRI, as an institution, seems to
have been facing internal obstacles that were created by a
politicization process (and) this weakens its integrity...

"The obstacles within ABRI (show) it is still vulnerable to
vested interests (so it is compelled) to cover up violations...
that could tarnish its image".

The commission acknowledged that military personnel in the
field face a dilemma over the obligation to their security duties
against the fear of being accused of violating human rights.
These fears, the commission added, were used to justify inaction.

It warned that the failure to act could boomerang with the
loss of public trust in security apparatus.

"With ABRI's image at its lowest ebb, the expanding violence
would be difficult to curb because of the absence of (public
respect for) its personnel," the commission said.

The body also discussed violations of human rights committed
by many other parties, including members of the public. It
attributed them to the feeling that criminal acts could be
committed with impunity.

"The commission is deeply concerned over the poor protection
of human rights and over Indonesia's vulnerability to violations,
as shown in various cases of violence and in the failure to solve
cases of gross violations of human rights over 1998."

The body cited the shooting of Trisakti University students in
May, the mid-May riots here and several other cities, the
gruesome murders of 200 Muslim clerics and alleged witchcraft
practitioners in East Java and other areas, the clash between
students and the military at the Semanggi cloverleaf in Jakarta,
the riot in Ketapang, West Jakarta, and in Kupang, East Nusa
Tenggara. The cases have yet to be resolved.

"Also noted was the violence against women, sexual violence
and even murders, and the involvement of children as either
victims or perpetrators in various incidents of violence."

The body recommended the government regularly issue
explanations about cases of gross rights violations and their
handling.

"This is necessary to appease public suspicion that there is
campaign to cover up the possible involvement of ABRI personnel
at various levels of responsibility.

"If ABRI is unable, then the President should do it," the body
said.

Among its other recommendations were a call for the
"systematic depoliticization" of ABRI to free it from influence
peddling by elite political groups. It is needed for ABRI to act
as an effective and professional national force, which can make
corrections at all levels, including the rank and file.

It suggested the government should consider separating the
defense and security ministerial post from the ABRI commander.
The positions are held concurrently by Gen. Wiranto.

It also recommended the government immediately ratify
international human rights mandates, in particular the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
International Covenant on Social, Economic and Culture Rights and
the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination.

The commission also urged a halt in the ongoing trial of 11
elite troops charged with abducting political activists. It said
there were indications the trial was not being conducted fairly
for either the defendants or plaintiffs. (29)