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)