Government proposes human rights charter

Government proposes human rights charter

JAKARTA (JP): The government introduced yesterday a charter on
human rights and presented it for deliberation to all five
factions of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which kicks
off its first general session today.

If approved, this will be the Assembly's first deliberation on
human rights ever.

Secretary-general of the National Defense and Security Council
Soekarto said yesterday that the charter, along with the
council's draft of State Policy Guidelines, was the government's
response to public aspirations.

"We won't claim that the proposals are purely our own. We're
just facilitating in relaying the public's wishes to the
Assembly," Soekarto said.

He said it took the council years to draw up the draft, the
process of which included hearings with experts, mass
organizations, religious leaders, the Armed Forces and political
organizations.

The council is made up of experts of various disciplines,
military scholars and others. President Soeharto chairs the
council.

The 1,000 MPR members will start deliberation on the State
Policy Guidelines shortly after their induction today. They will
regroup in March to endorse the guidelines and elect a president
and vice president.

Golkar has 488 seats, the United Development Party 134, the
Indonesian Democratic Party 16, the Armed Forces 113, and
regional representatives 149. The government has also named 100
MPR members representing various mass organizations, institutions
and professions.

In 1966, the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly
prepared a draft human rights charter, but deliberation on the
document was later dropped because the body had to prioritize a
series of measures to restore order following the communist coup
attempt in 1965.

According to the National Defense and Security Council,
Indonesia has its own interpretation and stance on human rights.
It maintains, however, its respect for the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.

The council says human rights include the right to live,
reproductive rights, self-development rights, equal justice
rights, freedom rights, security rights and the right to welfare.

However, the charter says individuals also have inseparable
obligations, including those concerning national defense,
environmental preservation and state order.

The draft charter is made up of 33 articles plus an
introduction. If the Assembly adopts the draft into one of its
decrees, it will then serve as a source for lower-level
regulations.

The issue of human rights has in the past put Indonesia in hot
water, especially in its relation to other countries that linked
the protection of human rights to other issues.

Indonesia established the National Commission on Human Rights
in 1993, whose main duty is to find human rights violations and
suggest recommendations for action to the government. The body
has grown to be respected and has become a source of hope for
many people who need help.

Last March the government cold-shouldered the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights' plan to open an office here. (amd)