Munawir's election widely welcomed by govt, military

JAKARTA (JP): The election of former minister of religious affairs Munawir Sjadzali as the new chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights was greeted with wide acceptance yesterday by the government, the military and the legal community.

"Munawir Sjadzali is the right person to fill the vacant chairmanship of the commission," Attorney General Singgih was quoted by Antara as saying.

"He has the integrity to lead the organization," Singgih told reporters before a cabinet meeting at Bina Graha.

The commission should be able to maintain its independence and objectivity under its new leader, he added.

Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said he is confident that the military will be able to work with Munawir.

"I am glad that the commission members elected Munawir," Feisal said.

"I look forward to even better relations between the commission and ABRI," he said after receiving 70 recently- promoted senior military officers at ABRI headquarters on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.

The military does not anticipate any problems with Munawir's election, he said when asked about the commission's decision to elect an existing member rather than an outsider.

He said the government and the military never exerted any pressure on the commission to elect Munawir.

Munawir was not closer to the government than any of the other 20 members of the commission. he said.

The 71-year-old Munawir, a diplomat by career, retired from public office in 1993 after serving as minister of religious affairs for five years. Since then he has served on the Supreme Advisory Council.

He was among the 25 men and women appointed by President Soeharto to serve on the National Commission on Human Rights when it was established in late 1993.

On Tuesday the commission's remaining 21 members elected him to succeed Ali Said, its first chairman, who died in June.

He won 12 votes to defeat Arnold Baramuli, a businessman and legislator of the ruling political group, Golkar, by five votes in what commission members hailed as a democratic election. Two of the members, Albert Hasibuan and Muladi were absent.

The commission's Deputy Chairman Marzuki Darusman and Secretary-General Baharuddin Lopa had earlier applauded Munawir's election, saying that he had the independence, integrity and vision, as well the capacity required for the post.

The commission is also now looking for three new members to replace those who have died in the last two years.

The secretary-general of the Indonesian Bar Association, Djohan D. Djauhari, said Munawir is expected to continue much of the work and traditions started by his predecessor.

"Since its establishment, the commission has given new hope to many people, especially the poor and powerless. No one had imagined that this was possible," Djohan told The Jakarta Post.

He added that the most important thing for Munawir is to preserve the image of the commission as an institution to which the poor and the weak can count on for help.

Human rights campaigner Hendardi said the democratic election of Munawir as chairman was major progress, considering that Ali Said was appointed by the President to the post.

He hailed the fact that the chairman was elected from among the existing members, and not appointed by someone from outside.

Hendardi however said that the government has continued to exert pressure on it, and this is most apparent whenever the commission handles major cases of human rights violations.

He noted the commission appeared to be dragging its heels in its handling of the July 27 riot in Jakarta.

The commission has refrained from publishing its report on the riot pending the election of a new chairman. But its preliminary findings contrasted so sharply with the official version of events the organization was challenged to come up with evidence to support some of its more controversial claims. (imn/16)

Editorial -- Page 4