Deepening poverty 'biggest threat to human rights'
Deepening poverty 'biggest threat to human rights'
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas warned on
Wednesday that deepening poverty caused by East Asia's financial
meltdown poses the biggest threat to human rights.
"It stirs up social and political turmoil, spreads inequities,
injustice and deprivation and could even trigger mass migrations
across borders," Alatas said.
"Under the yoke of poverty, the inherent dignity of the human
being cannot flourish," he told a two-day workshop organized by
the British and Indonesian governments and the European
Commission.
Under Soeharto's successor, President B.J. Habibie, Indonesia
is pursuing democratic reforms while trying to cope with an
economic crisis that has left millions of people jobless and sent
prices sky-high.
"We are today confronted by poverty that is more rampant than
ever. In East Asia alone, tens of millions have lost their jobs
in the past 15 months, forcing millions of households into a
lower quality of life, driving millions of children out of school
and into premature employment in factories," Alatas said.
He said the total number of people living below the poverty
line has been estimated at more than two billion. "This means
that nearly 40 percent of the human race, the part that lives in
the developing world, is bereft of human rights or barely
exercising these rights by reason of poverty alone," he added.
These gloomy statistics reflect the inequities and imbalances
of international economic relations that the international
community has long sought to redress, he said.
In his speech, Alatas echoed a Soeharto-era theme that human
rights must respect the needs of the community, not only the
individual, as well as customs unique to Indonesia. The nation of
202 million people will not be dictated to, he said.
"International cooperation on human rights can only work as a
partnership between equals," he said. "No one sits in judgment."
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook sent a message of support
to the meeting which was read out by British Ambassador to
Indonesia Robin Christopher.
Cook said that despite the serious economic difficulties which
Indonesia is facing, the government has embarked on an ambitious
program of political reform.
"There is a new sense of liberty. Democratic elections will be
held next year. The Indonesian press is enjoying new and
unfettered freedom," he said.
"The fact that it is taking place at all symbolizes the new
era of change in Indonesia, so this workshop is particularly well
timed," Cook said.
The joint chairman of the workshop, rights campaigner Marzuki
Darusman, said hard questions should be asked about the balance
of rights and responsibilities involving the relationship and
interests of the collective community and the private individual.
Indonesia accepts international norms in human rights, but its
record remains under international scrutiny, Marzuki, who is also
deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, said.
He said that although many discussions, ideas, and thoughtful
arguments have been exchanged, there is no simple explanation to
answer the question of the future of human rights in Indonesia.
"It is our wish that this workshop will generate more than
just rhetoric or idealistic view of how human rights should be
promoted in Indonesia," Marzuki said.
People have recently been shocked by revelations of a
multitude of rights violations allegedly committed by the
military during the 32-year rule of former president Soeharto.
The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants
comprising of human rights activists, officials, and experts from
Indonesia and European countries such as Britain, Finland, the
Netherlands, Sweden and Italy.
The first-day session featured four working group sessions
discussing police and the judiciary, women's and children's
rights, education, awareness and institution building and labor
rights.
The four groups are to present their reports on Thursday, the
last day of the workshop. (byg)