DPR to OK civil rights covenant

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.