Principles of fairness

Principles of fairness

From Pikiran Rakyat

It is all right for the central government and Aceh regional
administration, as announced by head of the public relations
division of Aceh regional administration, T. Pribadi (Kompas,
April 24, 1999), to adopt a policy of granting civil servant
positions to the victims of the imposition of the status of
military operation area (DOM) for Aceh some time ago, because
they have the right to do so. However, as an Indonesian citizen,
I feel concerned with such a policy because it does not teach the
community at large the significance of justice.

What is of greater concern to me is the fact that many
experts, or people claiming to speak on behalf of experts, always
link violations and leniency in policies while it is obvious that
such leniency is against prevailing provisions. If nothing is
done to keep this tendency in check, practices of corruption,
collusion and nepotism, which we have been resolved to do away
with, will only find fertile ground.

The release of political convicts and political detainees has
been linked to Soeharto's resignation. It means that if these
political detainees can be proven guilty they must be tried.
Logically, also, if Soeharto is considered guilty, he must be
tried. In the case of political detainees, they first must be
taken to court and should not be simply released. This is an
example of an erroneous policy.

To get back to the victims of the imposition of DOM, violators
of human rights must certainly be tried. It is really wrong to
award these victims civil servant positions without requiring
them to go through normal procedures. Clearly, this is a glaring
example of unfairness and injustice. I believe other Indonesian
citizens will agree with me in this respect. One more thing, it
must be remembered that not all these victims are qualified for
the positions they will be granted.

The government, therefore, must review this policy. However,
if a decree is issued on the appointment of these victims of the
imposition of DOM, I hope West Java regional office of the
manpower ministry (I have chosen West Java because it is in this
province that I live) rejects, if necessary, the placement, based
on this policy, of unqualified new recruits from Aceh.

I make this suggestion not because I am not concerned with the
plight of the victims of the imposition DOM. I am not an
unfeeling person, but I cannot agree to the government's policy
in this respect because it does not teach the public the
significance of fairness and justice.

KARTA WIJAYA

Indramayu, West Java