German parliamentarians meet local NGOs

German parliamentarians meet local NGOs

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting delegation of German parliamentarians
met with the National Commission on Human Rights and several non-
governmental organizations yesterday to discuss human rights
protection in Indonesia.

The five legislators, accompanying visiting German Chancellor
Helmut Kohl, were led by Rudolf Seiters, deputy leader of the
CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag.

Through an interpreter, Seiters told a press conference that
he learned during the two-hour meeting that the commission,
despite being formed and financed by the government, has proved
to be an independent institution.

Seiters was quoted by DPA as saying that even NGOs which were
extremely critical and had been skeptical of the commission now
acknowledged its independence.

Commission member A.A. Baramuli told local journalists the
German parliamentarians had expressed interest in the people's
freedom to assemble and express their opinions.

"We explained to them Indonesians are free to assemble and
express their opinions, including founding a political party or
an alternative labor union," said Baramuli.

However, Baramuli noted, it did not necessarily mean that the
government would recognize the alternative political parties and
labor unions. He pointed to the political party recently founded
by former legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas.

Other commission members attending the meeting were chairman
Munawir Sjadzali, Miriam Budiardjo, B.N. Marbun, and Clementino
dos Reis Amaral.

Baramuli said the delegation and the Commission also discussed
issues relating to the July 27 riots in Jakarta, including the
detention of labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan.

Baramuli said the government heeded most of the Commission's
recommendations on many issues.

The German parliamentarians also met with representatives of a
number of NGOs, among them the Indonesian NGO Forum on Indonesian
Development (INFID), the Institute for Policy Research and
Advocacy (ELSAM) and the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBHI).
(26/mds)