Human rights violations on the rise, say activists
Human rights violations on the rise, say activists
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Human rights abuses across the country are on the rise this year,
particularly in areas of conflict such as Aceh, Irian Jaya,
Maluku, Poso in Central Sulawesi and Sampit in Central
Kalimantan, activists said on Saturday.
They said that abuses involved the military, the police and
civilians.
Albert Hasibuan of the National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas HAM) said that the abuses had been aggravated by
ignorance of human rights on the part of the military and the
police. They thought that security and order would never prevail
if they had to strictly respect human rights.
"I think what has happened in Aceh, Irian Jaya, Poso, and
Sampit are clear indications of increasing human rights abuses in
both quantity and quality," Albert told The Jakarta Post.
Sectarian conflict pitting Christians against Muslims has been
taking place in Poso and Ambon, where over 11,000 people have
been killed over the past three years, according to one estimate.
This year also saw a bloody ethnic war between indigenous
Dayak and Madurese migrants in Central Kalimantan, where over
3,000 people lost their lives and over 40,000 families were
displaced.
The military has been fighting separatist movements in Irian
Jaya and Aceh, where hundreds of lives have been lost.
Albert said that numerous human rights abuses were committed
by civilians against security officers and by civilians against
civilians. But abuses by security forces were still dominant this
year, he noted.
The world is observing the 63rd anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. The 30-article document is a common
standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations to human
rights principles.
Albert said that although police and military officers had
been provided with basic information on human rights before they
were deployed in security operations, there was no significant
improvement in their record.
"The government still needs to seek a better approach in
teaching human rights to security officers so that they will no
longer think that protecting human rights is a burden for them,"
Albert said.
Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI) said that failure to improve the human rights
record was obvious, as exemplified by continuing torture and
killings in areas of conflict.
He also saw the numerous bombings in urban areas as a serious
form of human rights abuse.
"The state is considered as violating human rights if it fails
to stop communal conflicts," Hendardi said.
Both Albert and Hendardi foresaw a bleak prospect next year,
as law enforcement remained weak.
Hendardi said that President Megawati Soekarnoputri had the
political will to improve law enforcement but it was not easy
because she was elected after a compromise with New Order forces
well-known for their bad human rights record.
The activists also saw improvements in legislation as
Indonesia now had laws on human rights and a human rights court.
Indonesia also ratified a number of international conventions.
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Human rights abuses across the country are on the rise this year,
particularly in areas of conflict such as Aceh, Irian Jaya,
Maluku, Poso in Central Sulawesi and Sampit in Central
Kalimantan, activists said on Saturday.
They said that abuses involved the military, the police and
civilians.
Albert Hasibuan of the National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas HAM) said that the abuses had been aggravated by
ignorance of human rights on the part of the military and the
police. They thought that security and order would never prevail
if they had to strictly respect human rights.
"I think what has happened in Aceh, Irian Jaya, Poso, and
Sampit are clear indications of increasing human rights abuses in
both quantity and quality," Albert told The Jakarta Post.
Sectarian conflict pitting Christians against Muslims has been
taking place in Poso and Ambon, where over 11,000 people have
been killed over the past three years, according to one estimate.
This year also saw a bloody ethnic war between indigenous
Dayak and Madurese migrants in Central Kalimantan, where over
3,000 people lost their lives and over 40,000 families were
displaced.
The military has been fighting separatist movements in Irian
Jaya and Aceh, where hundreds of lives have been lost.
Albert said that numerous human rights abuses were committed
by civilians against security officers and by civilians against
civilians. But abuses by security forces were still dominant this
year, he noted.
The world is observing the 63rd anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. The 30-article document is a common
standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations to human
rights principles.
Albert said that although police and military officers had
been provided with basic information on human rights before they
were deployed in security operations, there was no significant
improvement in their record.
"The government still needs to seek a better approach in
teaching human rights to security officers so that they will no
longer think that protecting human rights is a burden for them,"
Albert said.
Hendardi of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI) said that failure to improve the human rights
record was obvious, as exemplified by continuing torture and
killings in areas of conflict.
He also saw the numerous bombings in urban areas as a serious
form of human rights abuse.
"The state is considered as violating human rights if it fails
to stop communal conflicts," Hendardi said.
Both Albert and Hendardi foresaw a bleak prospect next year,
as law enforcement remained weak.
Hendardi said that President Megawati Soekarnoputri had the
political will to improve law enforcement but it was not easy
because she was elected after a compromise with New Order forces
well-known for their bad human rights record.
The activists also saw improvements in legislation as
Indonesia now had laws on human rights and a human rights court.
Indonesia also ratified a number of international conventions.