Police promise to collaborate with rights body
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)