Accommodation from both sides needed

The Indonesian government will deny the United Nation's Human Rights Commission a recommendation to establish a representative office in Jakarta. The commission's ambition to open an office here was induced by its concern about human rights conditions in Indonesia, particularly in East Timor. The Indonesian government, for its part, regards such a move improper because it infringes on the country's sovereignty.

The exchange of ideas also puts the spotlight -- in a small way -- on the ongoing debate between the two opposing persuasions of human rights concepts and practices: the universal and the cultural relativist ones. On one hand, Western countries, represented in many cases by the United States, believe that human rights in concept and in practice are of a universal nature. On the other hand, Eastern countries generally believe that human rights are relative in nature, concept and practice depending on locally prevailing cultural, social-political, economic and ideological conditions.

In Indonesia, opinions are divided into two camps. Human rights activists generally agree with the universalist view. They suggest Indonesia should be more outward-looking in its human rights concepts and practices, and look towards the more advanced countries for examples. Bureaucrats and government circles, on the other hand, generally prefer to take an inward-looking stance, arguing that Indonesia needs to define human rights concepts and practices that are of an ingrained Indonesian character.

The wisest attitude to take, it seems, is to accommodate both opposing views proportionately. Both stances can be made to operate in synergy in order to arrive at a concept that does not pit "human dignity" against "the state's sovereignty".

The West should know its limits and restrain its political arrogance. We, on the other hand, should have the humility to accept the West's criticism, select out of it what is good and proper and use it to constantly improve our human rights record.

-- Republika, Jakarta