Golkar's rejection of rights bill a 'setback'

Golkar's rejection of rights bill a 'setback'

DEPOK, West Java (JP): Legal expert Todung Mulya Lubis
lamented Golkar's recent rejection for a call to establish an
Indonesian bill of rights, calling it a setback in
democratization.

Todung speculated that it was precisely the fear that the
bill, should one be set up, could be used to promote
democratization that made Golkar turned down the proposal.

Speaking in a discussion Friday at the University of
Indonesia's law school here, Todung said the refusal has raised
questions about Golkar's commitment towards human rights
promotion.

He said the People's Consultative Assembly should first hold
an open and sincere debate on the issue, before deciding whether
to set up a special bill of rights.

The National Defense and Security Council, a think-tank
chaired by President Soeharto, drew up recently a draft of
concept of human rights promotion that it wished to be adopted as
a powerful decree of the People's Consultative Assembly.

If passed, the document, already dubbed by some as the
Indonesian Bill of Rights, would serve as reference for future
legislation.

The dominant Golkar faction at the Assembly, however, rejected
the proposal. Instead, its executives said last month that the
principle of human rights protection would be included in its own
draft of State Policy Guidelines. A separate decree on human
rights was, therefore, unnecessary, the politicians argued.

Golkar's rejection was quickly followed by the equally
powerful Armed Forces faction at the Assembly. The minority
United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party
factions have promised to fight for the establishment of a
separate decree.

Todung said that if the Assembly eventually rejects a
separated decree on human rights, there is still another way for
the government to accommodate public aspirations on human rights.

"The government should ratify the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights," Todung said.

Todung charged, however, that the government had been
unwilling to ratify the covenant because it did not want its
human rights record to be monitored by the United Nations.

In 1966, the United Nations endorsed two covenants and one
optional protocol on human rights to be ratified by its member
countries.

They are the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol for the Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights.

Another speaker at the discussion was Eggy Sudjana of the
Center for Information and Development Studies. He pointed out
monopolistic economic practices, regulations that constrict the
freedom of the press, and some unfairness in the general
elections are factors that have been hampering democratization
and human rights promotion. (10)