DPR approves the bill on convention against torture

DPR approves the bill on convention against torture

JAKARTA (JP): Attacking the government for its tacit approval
of rights violations over the past 13 years, the four House of
Representatives factions passed yesterday the bill on the
Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment.

In a plenary session presided over by Hari Sabarno of the
Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, the legislators pointed out that
Indonesia signed the document in 1985 but was only now becoming
party to the convention.

During the gap of 13 years, various violations of human rights
had taken place in many parts of the country, including Aceh,
Irian Jaya and East Timor.

The bill on the convention would now be submitted to the
President to be signed into law. It is also to be submitted to
the United Nations.

The House, however, expressed its reservations over article 20
on disputes settlement through the International Court of Justice
because Indonesia does not recognize the court's jurisdiction as
binding.

The bill was considered historical because it was the first to
be initiated by the House in the last 30 years. By embracing the
convention, Indonesia's rights record will become a subject of
international scrutiny.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung
said in his address to the session that the ratification of the
convention displayed Indonesia's commitment, responsibility and
willingness to prevent human rights violations.

"Therefore, the perception of some parties that we ratified it
because of international pressure is wrong," he said. "With the
ratification, the government is committed to working more
effectively to provide its citizens with legal protection against
torture ..."

Golkar legislator Bambang Sadono also said the ratification
was proof of its commitment to uphold humanity. "All this time,
there has been no firm action against inhuman treatment
(committed) during legal actions such as interrogations,
investigations, arrests and trials which were all prone to rights
violations," he said.

Suwandi of the ABRI faction said the ratification of the
convention was a strategic move to appease concern over the
seriousness of Indonesia in handling cases of rights violations.

United Development Party faction spokesman Ghazali Abas said
that by becoming party to the convention, Indonesia was now on
equal footing with other countries with regard to the protection
of human rights.

Y.B. Wiyanjono of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction
pointed to the great number of victims of rights violation that
had taken place over the period of 13 years.

Quoting a report from the Institute for Policy Research and
Advocacy, Wiyanjono said Indonesia had experienced such a poor
period for rights protection because of public officials' acts
which had caused great suffering and fear among the general
public as a whole and minorities in particular.

Over the past three months, for instance, ELSAM recorded one
case of violence, five cases of torture during security
officials' interrogations, 13 shootings, 1,582 arbitrary arrests
and 28 cases of "forced disappearance".

"The high rate of rights violations show how the security
approach is still the dominant mode employed by the authorities
and how feeble legal institutions are," Wiyanjono said.

"These cases, which only tarnished Indonesia's image, should
be (solved) soon so the economic and confidence crisis affecting
the country will not drag on." (swe)