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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