PDI set to drop its motion on human rights

PDI set to drop its motion on human rights

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) looks set
to drop its bid for a separate and powerful People's Consultative
Assembly decree on human rights, leaving fellow minority faction
the United Development Party (PPP) alone to battle it out for the
unprecedented motion.

PDI Assembly member, Soedarjanto, said yesterday his faction
made the decision after the dominant Golkar faction offered a
draft on human rights protection which is "in line with PDI's
demand to improve the country's human rights record".

Deliberation of the motion on human rights, the first since
the New Order era, is now conducted by the Assembly's ad hoc
commission in charge of the State Policy Guidelines.

Golkar and its traditional allies, the Armed Forces and
regional representatives factions, oppose the motion. They
instead suggested that human rights protection be included in the
1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

The three factions altogether hold 850 out of 1,000 seats in
the Assembly.

Soedarjanto said Golkar's draft, apparently drawn up to
console minority factions whose bid looks to end in a defeat,
might serve as the most feasible compromise to end debate on
whether or not the Assembly needs to establish a separate decree
on human rights.

The motion was brought to the Assembly by PPP and PDI in
response to suggestions by the National Security and Defense
Council that Indonesia need an Assembly decree on human rights.

PPP representative, Muhammad Buang, said the Moslem-based
faction remained steadfast in demanding the decree. Yesterday he
called for another time-out to discuss the new development with
his colleagues.

Golkar's draft covers similar contents as those drawn up by
the other Assembly ad hoc commission in charge of nonstate policy
guidelines, although the first comprises four points compared to
the latter's seven.

The draft offered by Golkar says that human rights include the
right to development, to worship God, to have a family, to have
equal treatment before the law and security, and the freedom of
speech, assembly and association.

In exchange for recognition of the rights, people bear
responsibilities to exercise those rights.

It suggests the establishment of laws and ratification of
international covenants on human rights to ensure rights
protection.

Chairman of the commission in charge of the State Policy
Guidelines, R. Hartono, said the deliberation of human rights
protection would finish before the set deadline on Jan. 23. (amd)