Komnas HAM comes under fire
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)