Mega launches human rights action plan

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri launched on Thursday a national action plan on human rights in a bid to improve the country's record on the issue.

Under the action plan set out in presidential decree No. 40/2004, regional administrations are to set up human rights committees, which would disseminate information and educate bureaucrats and professional groups about human rights.

It is not clear, however, if the Indonesian Military (TNI), the body most-often accused of gross human rights violations, is also required to set up the committees.

"The strategic agenda for the next five years included in the national action plan is expected to improve the awareness and protection of human rights across the country," Megawati said.

Minister for Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the regional committees, which would be set up down to the regental level, would be required to review all existing bylaws and other rulings to ensure they did not violate human rights.

"The government is the main institution responsible for building and strengthening awareness on human rights. We are focusing on many activities, including training," he said. About 24,000 police officers nationwide had already undergone awareness training on human rights, Yusril said.

The State Guidelines since 1999 have required the government to set up national action plan on human rights. The guidelines are set by the president every five years.

The requirement came after the reform movement gained power in 1999. Since then, Indonesia has been criticized internationally for failing to resolve past and recent human rights violations.

Most allegations of abuse involve TNI personnel, including their role during the conflict surrounding East Timor's independence in 1999, and in the Wamena and Wasior regions of Papua in 2001 and 2003.

The decree was signed by Megawati on May 11. It requires the human rights committees to strengthen other institutions enforcing the action plan, prepare for the ratification of international human rights instruments, disseminate human rights information and monitor, evaluate and submit human rights reports to the President.

The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights is in charge of facilitating the implementation of the plan.