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)