'No intervention in commission on human rights'

'No intervention in commission on human rights'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono yesterday gave his words that the government will always honor the independence of the National Commission on Human Rights although it controls its budget.

During a hearing with the House of Representatives, Moerdiono said the government has not, and will never, interfere in the works of the human rights commission although the two have had their share of disagreements.

The issue was raised by during a hearing between Moerdiono and the House's Commission II which deals with domestic politics to review the spending plans of the State Secretariat.

Legislators Oka Mahendra and Hutagaol, both of the ruling Golkar faction, questioned Moerdiono about the independence of the human rights commission given that its budget is allocated each year by the State Secretariat.

The commission was set up by a presidential decree in 1993 and its 25 members were all appointed by President Soeharto. It began its work in January last year amidst skepticism about its independence but slowly it proved its critics wrong and had shown integrity and independence when it often criticized the authorities.

The State Secretariat has earmarked Rp 1.3 billion ($600,000) out of its total budget for the 1995-1996 fiscal year for the human rights commission.

Moerdiono said that despite differences with the rights commission, the government will never dream of putting undue pressure.

"I've had my share of disagreements with Baharuddin Lopa," he said referring to the commission's secretary general. "But I never tried to interfere in his work, or even make comments about his work in public. I never even placed a phone call to him or any of the other members about their work."

Moerdiono said he had at times called, and even scolded, Baharuddin in the latter's capacity as director general of correctional institutions.

The legislators yesterday also pressed Moerdiono for an explanation about the 110 percent increase in the budget for his office, from Rp 54.2 billion in 1994-1995 to Rp 113.9 billion. The increase is well in excess of the 11 increase in the overall government budget for the fiscal year which begins on April 1.

Moerdiono explained that the huge increase was largely caused by the rising contribution by the State Secretariat towards the various agencies which it supervises, at least financially.

They include the National Commission on Human Rights, the Agency for the Pancasila Propagation (BP7), the executive board of the Non-Aligned Movement which Indonesia chairs, the Indonesian Red Cross and the Indonesian Science Academy.

The State Secretariat also has to allocate a budget for two major projects this year: the working group to study the ways of relieving the debt problems of developing countries which Indonesia is now pursuing, and the celebration of Indonesia's 50th independence anniversary this year.(rms/29)