Only half rights body nominees 'qualified'

Only half rights body nominees 'qualified'

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II wrapped up on
Thursday the screening of 41 member candidates for the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), with the preliminary
conclusion that the number of feasible nominees was below
expectations.

The final results will be available on Monday, but some
legislators hinted that the number of feasible candidates would
be only around 20 people.

"At best, those qualified represent only half of the total
number of candidates," said legislator Akil Mochtar of the Golkar
Party faction on the sidelines of the hearing.

Fellow legislator Sayuti Rahawarin of the People's Sovereignty
Party (PDU) faction was more pessimistic, saying that the
qualified candidates were around 17 or 18 people. However,
another legislator Thahir Saimima of the United Development Party
(PPP) faction put the number at 25.

Akil, Sayuti, and Thahir were describing the quality of the
member candidates taking part in the hearing with House
Commission II for domestic, legal and human rights affairs.

They revealed that the evaluation of the member candidates was
based on certain requirements, such as their commitment to and
understanding of human rights issues and their experience in the
field.

Law No. 39/1999 on human rights affairs required the House to
pick 35 figures from a list of candidates submitted by the
current human rights commission.

Akil said the legislators selected the 41 candidates using a
scoring system to determine their suitability for the work.
According to him, all 63 legislators have their own evaluation,
which will be brought to a meeting on Monday.

"I found smart candidates, but who had no commitment to human
rights," he said, describing some of the candidates.

Akil emphasized that member candidates had to differentiate
between ordinary and extraordinary human rights abuses.

According to Akil, it was important for commission members to
understand the difference.

Meanwhile, Sayuti emphasized that the legislators should not
focus on fulfilling the target of 35 members.

He said that legislators were tasked to select qualified
candidates not to pick 35 people.

"I think we have to prioritize the selection of qualified
members rather than to meet the target," Sayuti added.

Thahir concurred, saying that the results of the fit and
proper test show that only about 25 candidates meet the
requirements.

Of the 41 candidates taking part in the selection test, five
were retired police and military officers.

However, legislators did not take this background into serious
consideration. They said that not all military or police officers
had committed human rights abuses.

"Personal background or work experience should not be confused
with institutional performance," Akil said.