No need for decree on human rights charter: Golkar

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar threw a wet blanket yesterday on the motion to have an Indonesian bill of human rights deliberated and adopted as a decree by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Golkar executives pointed out that the principle of human rights protection would be included in its draft of State Policy Guidelines, so it was unnecessary to establish a separate decree on human rights.

Agung Laksono, who is chairman of the Golkar faction at MPR, and Abdul Gafur, who is deputy speaker of the Golkar faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), made their remarks separately yesterday.

They were commenting on the draft of a human rights charter drawn up and submitted by the National Defense and Security Council for MPR deliberation. The council, chaired by President Soeharto, said it prepared the document in response to growing demand for better protection of human rights.

Secretary-general of the council Lt. Gen. (ret) Soekarto said Tuesday that it took years to draw up the draft, the process of which included hearings with experts, mass organizations, religious leaders, the Armed Forces and political organizations.

The 1,000-strong MPR for the 1997/2002 term was inducted on Wednesday. It is expected to establish a working committee today, which will be split into two groups. One will be in charge of drawing up and deliberating state policies, the other will deal with other matters including establishing MPR decrees on various subjects.

The body will regroup in March to endorse the State Policy Guidelines and elect a president and vice president.

An MPR ruling usually becomes a source for further legislation, whereas the State Policy Guidelines serve as the general blueprint for the country's direction in development.

Gafur said principles of human rights protection were already included in many existing legal products, including the 1945 Constitution and the state ideology Pancasila.

"We (Golkar legislators) incline to disagree with the idea of including the principles in an MPR decree," he said.

Agung, who is also a Golkar faction deputy chairman, said Golkar did not object to the idea of legislating the principles on human rights protection.

"However, they don't need to be established in an MPR decree," he said.

Besides, Gafur pointed out, establishing a bill of rights would not guarantee effective rights protection in the long run.

Taking a different stance, human rights campaigner Hendardi called on all factions of the People's Consultative Assembly yesterday to introduce and deliberate a special chapter on human rights protection.

The executive director of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association said it was important to have a separate MPR decree on human rights protection.

In 1966, the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly prepared a draft human rights charter, but deliberation on the document was later dropped because the body had to prioritize a series of measures to restore order following the communist coup attempt in 1965. (imn)