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.