Contradictions in human rights

Contradictions in human rights

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary
Robinson said almost all the 30 articles of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights are being abused in many parts of the
world.

The declaration -- issued 50 years ago -- seems to have had
little significant impact so far.

Like the UN and the United States -- which claim to be the
champions of human rights but which have actually have double
standards when it comes to human rights abuses -- Indonesia's
non-governmental organizations have yet to cope with various
complicated human rights violations in the country.

Although Indonesia signed the international declaration, human
rights abuses -- such as those in East Timor, Irian Jaya, Aceh,
Tanjung Priok, Lampung, Banyuwangi (East Java), and the Semanggi
incident -- have continued to occur.

The question is why do Indonesian NGOs focus only on cases
like the abduction of activists, and are slow to address issues
like the killing spree in Banyuwangi?

We have claimed many times that we are fighters for human
rights but, in fact, our struggle has contained antihuman rights
sentiments.

-- Republika, Jakarta