City to have human rights commission

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is seeking support to establish a city chapter, considering that 60 percent of rights abuses occur in Jakarta.

Lies Soegondo, Head of the Commission's Research Division, said that the commission is currently handling more than 1,000 human rights violation reports and 60 percent of them were reported here.

"It's too much for the commission. Next year we face the general election and human rights violations will probably increase," she said in a discussion at Komnas HAM office in Central Jakarta.

She said that establishing Komnas HAM's city chapter would significantly decrease the commission's burden in processing reports on human rights abuses across the country.

The establishment of the city chapter, which should be funded from the city budget, would also relieve the already limited budget of the Komnas HAM, she added.

Arsani, Head of the City's Human Rights Division, said that city administration supported the establishment of the commission because it would promote and protect human rights in the city.

"The city council supports its establishment. Now it needs legalization through a bylaw," he said.

However, Anton Prajasto from Demos, a human rights non- governmental organization, said that he doubted the independence of the provincial commission, considering that its budget would be dependent on the city administration.

Many human rights abuses reported to Komnas HAM, such as land and street vendor's evictions, were reportedly conducted by city administration's officers.

But Komnas HAM member, Saafroedin Bahar, said that to guarantee the independence of the provincial commission, the recruitment of its members would involve fit and proper tests conducted by the city council.

Komnas currently has representative offices in Aceh and Papua.