Police promise to collaborate with rights body

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights yesterday secured police cooperation concerning the observance of human rights in the country.

Four members of the Commission, led by Secretary General Baharuddin Lopa, met yesterday with National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro at his office to discuss a number of human rights issues.

Topics discussed ranged from the controversial government policy which requires people to obtain police permits for any gatherings involving more than five people, to allegations of police brutality, to the on-going investigation of politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas who is accused of slandering President Soeharto.

"The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to improve cooperation, and with the police promising to pay more attention to recommendations from the human rights commission," Lopa told reporters after the meeting.

Lopa was accompanied by three members of the commission -- Munawir Sjadzali, Charles Himawan, and Miriam Budiardjo -- while Banurusman was accompanied by 10 of his deputies.

Lopa described the meeting as cordial with commission members providing information on various human rights issues.

"There will be periodical meetings between the police and commission officials, especially to talk about how to solve problems together," said Lopa.

Gathering permits

The meeting discussed at length the government's policy on gathering permits, with the commission members urging police to show greater flexibility in handling such matters in accordance with the progress in democracy.

Lopa said that if the policy is to be retained, it should not impede democracy and people should be allowed to express their ideas freely.

On a separate briefing, Brig. Gen. I Ketut Ratta, the chief spokesman of the National Police, explained that the police were only implementing the "positive law" in regulating the issuance of gathering permits.

Other government agencies are also involved in making decisions as to whether gathering permits are granted, he pointed out. "Meetings that have political connotations should get recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said, citing an example.

On the question of police brutality, Ratta said Banurusman gave assurances that he would send any member of his force before a military tribunal if they were found to have been involved in such acts.

Some police officers have already been convicted and expelled from the service, he added. (03)