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