~Rights body's professionalism

~Rights body's professionalism

JP/6/E05 two difficult works -- difficult because they are by nature contradictory.

The government has decided to launch a military operation in Aceh province. This decision is full of risks in terms of human rights protection, the focus of the country's National Commission on Human Rights.

Clashes of interests between the military and the human rights body are unavoidable because the two have different purposes.

The commission's professionalism is being questioned by the military. The root of the problem is the commission's findings on extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and sexual harassment during the military operation.

The war in Aceh will continue and the number of victims would increase. Thus the human rights body's professionalism and credibility are vital in putting the military operation in check.

Professionalism and credibility however are not enough if the two factors are based only on verbal reports.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta