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)