MUI calls for rights body to be dissolved

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) called on the government to dissolve the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for failing to respond satisfactorily to human rights violations in Maluku and North Maluku.

"The rights body and many other non-governmental organizations have taken a discriminative stance and have used double standards in handling human rights abuses in the country," MUI acting chairman Amidhan said here on Tuesday.

Amidhan said the rights body had failed to address seriously the riot in Kupang, West Nusa Tenggara, and the violence in Ambon which began last year.

On the other hand, he said, the rights body had given priority and a focused a great deal of attention on East Timor.

Amidhan suggested a new independent body be formed to replace the commission. "The House of Representative should be the one to select the independent members."

House Deputy Speaker Tosari Wijaya concurred, saying the rights body should be replaced with a new one whose members were more neutral.

"The government should disband the rights body because it has not been neutral in handling human rights abuses in the country," he said here on Tuesday.

He said the rights body often gave the impression of being unwilling to address human rights abuses in which the victims were Muslims.

He further called on security personnel deployed in Maluku and North Maluku to remain neutral and enforce the law impartially.

Tosari said the government should take strict action against persons or groups violating the law. "It may be better for the government to impose a military emergency in the two provinces to end the sectarian violence."

He said while the government had taken action it was not yet serious in resolving the conflict in Maluku. (04/rms)