Talks on truth commission delayed

JAKARTA: Lawmakers agreed on Monday to delay deliberations on the truth and reconciliation bill until the next legislative sitting, expected to start on April 12.

The House of Representatives (DPR) will close its current session on Friday and go into a month-long recess. During that time members will campaign for their respective parties from March 11 through April 1.

Chairman of the House committee for the bill's deliberation Sidarto Danusubroto said the delay was meant to give factions more time to collect more opinions from the public.

The decision to delay deliberation came after each faction demanded more time to study the contents of the bill, which will provide a legal basis for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.

The commission will be tasked to seek out-of-court settlement of human rights abuse cases that took place before 2000 -- the year the law on human rights trials was passed. - JP