'Rights body must boost mediation role'

'Rights body must boost mediation role'

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former human rights minister Hasballah M. Saad criticized the
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for focusing
only on investigative activities, saying the commission should
develop its role of mediation.

Hasballah, a candidate for member of the commission, pledged
that he would always maintain his commitment to the advocacy of
human rights.

"I will develop the function of mediation and advocacy,"
Hasballah said on Thursday during the hearing with House
Commission II for law and human rights affairs here.

Hasballah was the 23rd candidate to undergo the fit and proper
test by the commission.

Another candidate, Achmad Ali, pledged he would ask fellow
commission members to continue their investigative role but to
uphold impartiality in their investigation.

Ali, a dean of the law department at Hasanuddin University
(Unhas), emphasized that the effectiveness of the commission's
work would depend on the work of other institutions such as the
Attorney General's Office.

Therefore, he reiterated that upholding human rights in the
country should not be simply seen from the performance of the
rights body, but also the work of the Attorney General's Office.

During the hearing, Ali refuted claims that he had not acted
impartially by appointing his wife as a lecturer at his
university.

Ali said his wife had a high academic performance throughout
her schooling.

"She was a top-ranking student from elementary school to high
school. Her grade point average was 4 when she received her
masters degree," Ali added.

Legislators extended the hearing until Wednesday.

They will not examine the candidates on Monday because they
have to convene for a plenary session to discuss the setting up
of special teams for the deliberation of political bills and to
investigate the alleged involvement of House Speaker Akbar
Tandjung in the Bulog scam.

Of the total 43 candidates, the House of Representatives (DPR)
will chose 35 and submit the names to the President who will
later officiate their induction.

Many of the current candidates are considered too old to deal
with investigative activities.