RI urged to ratify UN rights treaties
RI urged to ratify UN rights treaties
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Jose Ayala Lasso urged the Indonesian government yesterday to immediately ratify various UN treaties on human rights.
"I have requested the Indonesian government to ratify international instruments of the human rights including the convention against torture and civilian political rights," Ayala Lasso told a media conference at the conclusion of his five-day visit to Indonesia, which included a trip to East Timor.
"I have been informed that the procedure to accelerate the ratification of several conventions are going to be expedited, and I hope the convention against torture could be ratified, if possible next year," he said. "I hope the step to it will be done as soon as possible," he added.
Ayala Lasso, whose visit here was at the invitation of the Indonesian government, earlier paid a courtesy call on President Soeharto. He held a series of discussions with Indonesian officials in Jakarta and East Timor, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Attorney General Singgih, East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Soares, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and jailed East Timor rebel leader Xanana Gusmao.
Alatas, who accompanied Ayala Lasso at the briefing, said ratifying the human rights conventions was a matter of time.
"We need time, since the procedures are not short," he said, adding that proposed ratifications must first be submitted to the House of Representatives for approval.
Ayala Lasso said that he had held frank discussions with the people with whom he had met in Jakarta and East Timor.
He underlined the need for Indonesia to give a full account of the dozens of people who were reported missing after an incident in Dili in November 1991. In that incident, troops clashed with East Timor protesters, leaving about 50 people dead and dozens of people missing, according to the official account.
"I have recommended that the search for the people who disappeared or killed in the incident be continued," he said.
One of Ayala's missions before coming here was to bring up a report by the UN Human Rights Commission written in February demanding that Indonesia investigate the whereabouts of those people reported missing.
Yesterday, he also underlined the need for the National Commission on Human Rights to be more independent. "I recommended the Commission to get better financial support for it to be more independent." he said.
"Let me encourage once again to the Indonesian government to go on increasing the possibility of cooperation on promotion and protection of human rights," he said. "There are many things to do and I hope it will be done. The sooner the better."
He said he discussed with Indonesian officials the possibility of the Geneva-based commission opening a representative office in Indonesia. "I recommended to open a commission branch by sending a program rapporteur here," he said.
Yesterday, a group of anti-government protesters forced their way into the Dutch and Russian embassies in Jakarta, demanding to meet with Ayala Lasso. Their request was turned down on the grounds that the high commissioner had a tight schedule. The UN envoy left for London last night. (01)
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