Govt's use of force must be accountable: Activists

Govt's use of force must be accountable: Activists

JAKARTA (JP): The state should be accountable for its frequent
use of force, said speakers at last week's seminar commemorating
Tempo's, Editor's and Detik's ban on June 21, 1994.

Speakers at the seminar held at Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts
Center said the public should courageously demand government
accountability when state apparatus resorts to violence in
dealing with peaceful discord.

"We don't have forums to question the philosophy behind the
use of force in the name of 'national stability'" human rights
advocate Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara said.

Other speakers at the seminar organized by journalists and
artists of "Committee 21" included sociologist Arief Budiman and
chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation,
Bambang Wijayanto.

News weekly Tempo was closed down for "editorial content" that
the government did not clearly specify, while DeTIK and Editor
were banned for administrative reasons.

This month, the Supreme Court decided in favor of the
government after the lower courts ruled in favor of the highly
popular magazine.

During last Thursday's seminar, security officers and hundreds
of Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) activists clashed near
Gambir railway station, about one kilometer west of the seminar
venue.

Dozens of people from both sides were reportedly injured in
the incident.

Abdul Hakim said that after Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto sent troops to put down a riot, she was questioned by
parliament.

But the Indonesian House of Representatives did not question
why troops were sent to put down an uprising in Aceh, Northern
Sumatra, several years ago, he reasoned.

Bambang told The Jakarta Post the House should exercise its
right to question the government's use of force when settling
peaceful protests.

Legislators have so far failed to make laws concerning this,
partly because House rules make it difficult for them to
critically question government policies.

Bambang said legislators should review legal instruments which
justify the use of force, including non-physical violence.

Such legal instruments include 1994 decree No. 1 by the
Minister of Information which allows the withdrawal of publishing
licenses.

Arief Budiman said opposition to the State's use of violence
must carry a degree of legitimacy and intellect: "Megawati (PDI
chief) uses legal arguments (to defend her leadership). But
without adequate intellect an opposition movement breaks easily."

Opposition should make the public critical. This requires
creativity which artists should contribute, he said. (anr)