Rights body members want credible, professional chief
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is facing mounting internal pressure to elect a chairperson who is capable of restoring its image as a credible institution.
Whoever is elected as the commission's new chairperson on Thursday should focus on efforts to stop the rights body from siding with state authorities, several commission members told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Solahuddin Wahid and M. M. Billah, both Komnas HAM members, agreed that the new commission chief must be credible, independent, professional and experienced in handling human rights cases.
Those with a bad track record, including several reelected members of the Komnas HAM, should be prevented from taking the top position in the once-esteemed commission, they added. Both Solahuddin and Billah declined to specify any names.
Some Komnas HAM members and other human rights activists from non-governmental organizations have nominated respected human rights lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara for the chairmanship in place of Djoko Sugianto, who is currently the chair of Komnas Ham and serving his third term as a member of the commission.
Garuda is standing in for Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin, who was recently acquitted of corruption charges by the Jakarta High Court.
Also on the list of strong contenders are Solahuddin, a prominent Muslim scholar from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Billah of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Achmad Ali, a legal expert from Hasanuddin University in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar.
The election will be held on Thursday in two rounds. In the first round each of the 23 Komnas HAM members selects two names for the top post in the commission. Those who win at least 12 votes will contest the run-off.
Retired military general Syamsuddin, retired police general Koesparmono Irsan and Syafruddin Bahar, who was once involved in the notorious security and order restoration operation command led by Gen. (ret.) Sudomo, are also likely to contest the leadership race.
Sources within the Komnas HAM called for a vote against the three figures, who have past links with security authorities, and Djoko in order to boost the commission's credibility.
Djoko has been criticized for failing to perform well while heading the commission.
Billah and Solahuddin admitted the commission has been under spotlight for failing to serve the public interests in overcoming human rights abuses linked to military and police.
"Such an impression is so strong that Komnas HAM lacks independence in undertaking its duties," said Solahuddin, a younger brother of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
He cited as an example the unresolved cases of Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies in 1998 and 1999 respectively, the Tanjung Priok massacre in 1984 and last year's murder of Papua separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay. Many have blamed security forces for the incidents.
"In resolving those cases, the Komnas HAM has appeared to be toothless and partisan and has instead become a tool of state institutions," Solahuddin said.
He suggested that under the new leadership the commission draw up priorities so that investigation into those human rights tragedies could be reopened.
Billah said that during recent years, the commission seemed to favor the security authorities when it came to reaching crucial decisions.
Both Billah and Solahuddin were of the opinion that apart from its partiality, internal friction within Komnas HAM was also to blame for the commission's eroding credibility.