Local rights bodies needed: DPR

Local rights bodies needed: DPR

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II for
legal and home affairs on Monday called for the establishment of
regional branches of the National Commission on Human Rights
(Komnas HAM) to tackle local human rights violations.

Deputy chairman of Commission II R. Gaffar said in a hearing
with Komnas HAM members here on Monday that local commissions
would bring human rights protection closer to local populations.

Komnas HAM members present at the hearing included Sholahudin
Wahid and Zoemrotin K. Susilo.

"Local Komnas HAM offices are needed to effectively tackle all
the human rights violations which are beyond the reach of the
national commission," Gaffar said.

Another legislator, Akil Muchtar, said that those who were
appointed to be part of regional human rights commisions must
have the ability and professionalism to uphold human rights.

He also said that members of the local commissions should be
natives of each area concerned with a thorough knowledge about
his or her own region. --Antara