Komnas HAM comes under fire

JAKARTA (JP): The coalition of human rights watchdog has demanded that all members of the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) resign for their failure to execute their function to resolve rights violation cases.

Munir, co-founder of the National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said that their resignation was expected to help the formation of a better rights commission badly needed to correct the country's poor criminal justice system.

Besides Kontras, the coalition also consists of, among others, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy and the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation.

"It's a pity that the current Komnas HAM cannot perform its duty properly. When we expect it to carry through investigations on certain rights abuses, it's the commission itself which has become its obstacles," Munir said on Thursday.

The 18-member commission has also been accused of shielding suspected rights perpetrators.

Responding to the call, Komnas HAM secretary-general Asmara Nababan said that the members' resignation would not automatically strengthen the commission's position since the composition of its membership was still being processed.

In accordance with Law No. 39/1999 on the commission, the number of commission members should be expanded to 35 by Sept. 23 and they have to pass a House of Representatives screening. The commission, however, has yet to submit its list of candidates.

"The coalition's demand is similar to the House's decision that all Komnas HAM members must be elected by lawmakers. It means that the old members who were appointed by the government have to be replaced or to apply for new membership," he said at his office.

Separately, Komnas HAM chairman Djoko Soegianto refused to comment on the demand, saying that he would bring it to the commission's next monthly plenary meeting on Oct. 2.

"The demand should be put in for consideration as this is not a simple matter to put aside," he said. (bby)