'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.