Effectiveness of rights ministry questioned

Effectiveness of rights ministry questioned

JAKARTA (JP): Rights activists have welcomed the establishment
of the State Ministry of Human Rights Affairs but harbor doubts
about its effectiveness.

They were buoyed by the establishment of the ministry,
particularly since it will be headed by Hasballah M. Saad, a
noted rights activist from the troubled province of Aceh.

"We urge the ministry to investigate unresolved human rights
cases and hope that it doesn't turn into a political guise to
promote the new government's credibility," activist Ifdhal Kasim
from the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) said
on Wednesday.

Ifdhal cited rights violations which needed immediate
attention, such as those which occurred during the 1998 May
riots, the Semanggi and Trisakti shootings and abuses in Aceh and
Irian Jaya.

Ifdhal was speaking at a joint media conference with
Volunteers for Humanity, the Jakarta Social Institute, Solidarity
Forum for Aceh (Forsala) and Advocation of Human Rights in Irian
Jaya.

The groups noted that the ministry's harmonious cooperation
with law enforcement institutions was a fundamental necessity for
it to carry out its tasks effectively.

Spokeswoman for Volunteers for Humanity Karlina Leksono said
clarification was needed about the new minister's work to ensure
it did not overlap with the National Commission on Human Rights.

Rights commission chairman Marzuki Darusman dismissed
speculation that there would be competition between the two
institutions.

"The ministry can concentrate its work on policy-making while
the commission can work on the ground and give recommendations to
the government.

"In brief, it will smoothen the point of coordination between
the government and the rights body which is now facing various
obstacles."

A member of the commission, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, said the
establishment of the ministry was indicated in the human rights
decree endorsed by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in
1998.

"It's clearly stated that the government will be responsible
for handling rights violations in the country so it needs a
formal institution or a ministry to manage these rights
complaints. The ministry will take a formal approach to handling
the violations," he told The Jakarta Post. (emf/04)