Komnas HAM assures correct screening process in place

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) assured on Monday that procedures used in the second phase of screening 20 additional members were in compliance with regulations, despite complaints from several candidates whose names were made public without prior notification of their nomination.

B.N. Marbun, head of the screening team and a commission member, said that there was no need to ask the candidates about their willingness to be included in the screening or to take an internal fit and proper test, as long as they attended the test held on Oct. 17 and 18.

"There is no problem whether the candidate applies for the candidacy by themselves or are nominated by several social groups. We can still accept a candidate whose application goes beyond the deadline, moreover, if he or she is supported by a commission member," he told reporters.

The first screening, held by a joint team with other rights activists and legal experts, had named 14 new members of the commission last July.

However, in compliance with Law No. 39/1999 on the commission, Komnas HAM needs 20 additional members and a secretary-general, who must be a civil servant, to meet the required 35 members.

At least two candidates -- women's activist and artist Ratna Sarumpaet and lawyer Bachtiar Effendi -- complained earlier because they were never contacted before their names were announced in the media among 55 new candidates for the second round of screening.

They were reportedly only asked if they were prepared to appear four days before the fit and proper test was held at the Komnas HAM office.

Later, the team also included 12 candidates who had been declared to have failed the first screening tests, without giving any reason for their inclusion.

Therefore, many people questioned the procedures of the current team for including the names of people who were believed to have failed to uphold human rights.

Separately, Komnas HAM chairman Djoko Soegianto brushed aside criticism that the second screening was not as transparent as the first screening held by another team last July. Doubt was only caused by the lack of information on where the 67 candidates for the second screening came from, he said.