Talks on truth commission delayed

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