Rights commission opens as usual

The show must go on at Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights despite the series of APEC meetings and other international events scheduled between Nov. 3 and 15.

The Commission, according to its Secretary General Baharuddin Lopa, will maintain its "open house" policy for complainants.

"We have not received any government instructions to not receive complainants during the APEC meetings. So I assume anyone having complaints about human rights violations can come to our office," Lopa said to the Antara news agency.

He pointed out that it is the obligation of the Commission to receive anyone having legitimate complaints concerning human rights violations.

The Commission, set up in July 1993 and headquartered near the President's Bina Graha working office, has been working hard to show to the public that it is really an independent institution in charge of safeguarding human rights even though it was appointed by the President and is funded by the government.(vin)