Our rights record

Our rights record

Indonesia will take part in the worldwide National Plan of
Action for human rights as United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan announced recently. The program, according to Indonesian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, is part of the
commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1948 Universal
Declaration of Human Rights next year. The UN chief also urged
all countries to improve their respective human rights records.

Indonesia, which witnessed appalling violations of human
rights last year, involving many sectors of society, managed to
improve its human rights record this year.

The most serious human rights violations this year took place
during the general election campaign in May. According to the
National Commission on Human Rights, this was caused by public
anger, political contenders' failure to control supporters,
widening social disparity and political injustice. At least 123
people were killed in a riot in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan,
most trapped inside a burning shopping center.

The year was also marred by the banning of a drama about
Marsinah, a heroic slain labor activist. The play was due to be
staged in Surabaya, East Java, and Bandung, West Java, before it
was banned by police.

It was first believed the play was banned in Surabaya due to
the sensitivity surrounding Marsinah's murder there in 1993,
which is still shrouded in mystery. Marsinah died after being
arrested by security officers.

The ban upset the public -- notably members of the House of
Representatives -- and enraged theater lovers. Legislators said
the ban was a disgrace. They said the nation's image could be
tarnished by the police action. They also said the officers
responsible for the ban should be punished.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, in a meeting with
House members, called for an explanation of the police ban.
National Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo later said that security
officers imposed the ban in Surabaya because organizers could not
produce any permit for the show. He said the decision was made
merely on security grounds.

Many people failed to understand the logic of his statement at
first. It was clear in their minds that in 1995 the National
Police chief issued a directive stipulating that cultural events,
including musicals, dance, poetry, opera, pantomimes and plays,
did not require police permission or prior notification. How
could police trespass on their own directive?

The banning of the drama for security reasons suggests the
principle of the presumption of innocence has ceased to have a
meaning in this country. It is also a naked violation of human
rights.

But the action reminds people of the police banning of
seminars and political meetings several years ago on the basis of
the outdated law, which was used by the Dutch colonial
authorities to ban gatherings by nationalists.

The government however has decided to join the UN National
Plan of Action and boost its human rights record here.

But if freedom of expression continues to be treated this way,
and bannings continue to be tolerated, this country will only
find itself ostracized by other civilized nations.