RI may face trouble in UN rights meeting
RI may face trouble in UN rights meeting
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia may face serious problems over its
human rights record at the UN Human Rights Commission's meeting
in Geneva on April 21, a member of the National Commission on
Human Rights said yesterday.
"Indonesia may encounter a general statement or an anti-
Indonesia resolution (during the meeting)," said Clementino dos
Reis Amaral who has just returned from a preliminary meeting held
recently by the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
Amaral was quoted by Antara as saying that a general statement
is "softer" than a resolution.
A resolution would reflect the number of countries against
Indonesia while a general statement, to be delivered by the UN
commission's chairman, would only represent the body's stance on
Indonesia, he said.
He added that if a resolution was issued, the UN commission
would send a special envoy to Indonesia to monitor its human
rights practices.
"The case of missing people as well as the East Timor issue
will be included in the agenda of the UN commission meeting," he
said.
Amaral said that during the preliminary meeting, he and his
colleague Marzuki Darusman explained to the UN commission the
efforts of the rights commission to uphold human rights in
Indonesia.
"We told them that there have been efforts and good intentions
on the part of the Indonesian government to uphold human rights
in the country," he said.
Goodwill on the part of the government was shown in, among
other things, the establishment of the rights commission in
January 1994, a request by the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) for
lectures on human rights, and the possibility of including a
course on human rights in the curriculum of the Armed Forces
Staff College and Academy.
On Wednesday, Marzuki Darusman made similar comments about the
possibility of an anti-Indonesia resolution being issued in the
Geneva meeting next week.
"An anti-Indonesia resolution is a serious problem to which
the government must pay great attention. We are urging the
government to form a strategy to avoid (the issuance of) such a
resolution," Marzuki said.
Missing
Marzuki said reports about the disappearance of a number of
political activists might prompt an anti-Indonesia resolution.
The Armed Forces (ABRI) has denied any involvement in the
disappearance of, among others, Andi Arief of the outlawed
Democratic People's Party (PRD). ABRI and the National Police
have offered to help trace the missing people.
The rights commission itself has yet to complete its
investigation into the matter, according to Marzuki.
"We are setting up a special team to gather more information
in several provinces, including Surabaya in East Java and
Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi," he said.
The team will consist of Aisyah Amini, Soetandyo, Saparinah
Sadli, Charles Himawan and Clementino Dos Reis Amaral.
"We need to clarify whether these missing people have gone
into hiding or were kidnapped," he said, adding that the process
would take time.
Meanwhile, activists from various non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) set up a special commission yesterday to
help trace the whereabouts of the missing activists.
Led by the respected Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Institute (YLBHI), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims
of Violence will step up efforts to investigate the disappearance
of students and activists. The commission will meet today with
officials from the National Military Police.
YLBHI's secretary Munir told a media conference yesterday that
the commission would also establish contact with international
organizations such as the United Nations' Working Group on
Abitrary Detention.
YLBHI sent a letter to the Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto
on Tuesday requesting an appointment to discuss the
disappearances.
The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), the
Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), the Alliance of
Independent Journalists (AJI), and the Indonesian Islamic
Students Movement (PMII) are among nine NGOs which support the
commission. (byg)