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)