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)