Govt told to submit TRC bill to House

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) expressed regret on Monday over the government's move to withhold the bill on truth and reconciliation commission (TRC), saying the move revealed the government's lack of will in handling rights abuses in the past.

"It has been mandated by the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly). The government has an obligation to take the bill a priority," commission chairman Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara said on Monday.

The bill, which had been initiated in 2000, was submitted last year by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to the State Secretary to be conveyed to the House for deliberation.

The State Secretary admitted that they had retained the bill because of their objection to several articles regarding compensation for the victims, which is supposedly covered by the state.

Law No. 26/2000 on human rights tribunal stipulates the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to settle past human rights violations out of court. -- JP