DPR to OK civil rights covenant

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives has agreed to ratify the international covenant on civil and political rights with an adjustment that will ensure its enactment will not justify any separatist movements.

At the same hearing with acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra on Monday, House Commission I on international affairs also expressed support for ratification of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.

The government has proposed an amendment to Article 1 of the covenant on civil and political rights, which recognizes people's right to self-determination.

The amendment says the self-determination right does not apply to the people within an independent and sovereign country and shall not render justification for acts to undermine territorial integrity of a sovereign country.

Indonesia has signed a peace agreement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to end three decades of secessionism in the province. The country is still plagued by lower levels of separatist activity in Papua. Both provinces are rich in natural resources but have suffered from injustice and human rights abuses.

State Secretary Yusril, representing foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda who is on a visit to South Africa with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, said over 50 countries had ratified the covenant on civil and political rights with a condition regarding Article 1.

In response to the government's proposal, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction suggested that the article on self- determination right be declared inapplicable for fear that it might spark more separatist movements.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction said the ratification of the two covenants should be followed up by revision of legislation and regulations that go against the international treaties, particularly the controversial presidential decree on land acquisition for public infrastructure that was issued by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early this year.

PKB spokesman Muhammad A.S. Hikam also suggested that the covenant on civil and political rights justified the elimination of the death penalty in the country, saying it violates human rights.

Four convicts have been executed over the last year, and two more are likely to face a firing squad in Padang, West Sumatra after they exhaust all their legal avenues.