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)