Govt to meet more often with rights body
Govt to meet more often with rights body
JAKARTA (JP): The government will meet with the Human Rights Commission more often but this will not affect the independence of the body, a senior minister said yesterday.
The meetings will take every two months on the second Thursday of the month, said Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.
He said that, because the Commission is part of the national system, "we must also be familiar with them, but we don't mean to reduce their independence."
The Commission was formed by President Soeharto in 1993.
Soesilo was speaking to the press after meeting with the President at the Bina Graha office.
He said he had reported to the head of state the results of his recent meeting with Commission members, who were led by political scientist Miriam Budiardjo.
"I had the honor to receive them before they began work in 1993, and one-and-a-half years later they considered it necessary to come to my office again," Soesilo told reporters.
He said he had congratulated the members for proving their independence despite initial speculation that they would be timid.
"Their independence has received appreciation at home and overseas," Soesilo added.
The Commission has gained praise, including from rights activists, on its investigations of human rights violations.
"The establishment of the Commission proves that we are open to (reports) on human rights violations," he said.
Soesilo said further that consultations would benefit both the government and the Commission.
The government could gain information on human rights violations, particularly in "areas which call for our joint attention, like Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor," he said.
On the other hand, he said, the Commission would be kept informed on how the government acts on its findings.
One of the Commission's recent findings was the involvement of the military in the killing of 16 people in Timika, Irian Jaya.
Several Commission members have also visited East Timor in relation to the recent riots there.
Since its establishment the Commission has been increasingly flooded with requests for investigations. Recently it announced that it will concentrate on political cases only.
The Commission is now led by former chief justice Ali Said. Its members include legislator Aisyah Amini, former legislator Roekmini Koesoema Astoeti, politician Marzuki Darusman, justice ministry Director General of Correctional Institutions Baharuddin Lopa and Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, retired legislator from East Timor. (anr)