Rights commission says beware of malicious issues
Rights commission says beware of malicious issues
JAKARTA (JP): The National Human Rights Commission has warned
that distorted issues were being circulated by irresponsible
people to incite confusion and discord in the community.
Commission Secretary, Baharudin Lopa, said in Dili, East
Timor, that he noticed a recent tendency in members of the
community to exaggerate and circulate contentious topics.
He said earlier this week communities throughout the country
were easily incited to violent measures in response to rumors.
"There's a tendency of trying to divide and incite people in
the community through deceitful issues. It's quite evident in the
incidents which have been occurring lately," said Lopa as quoted
by Antara.
He pointed to recent mob outbreaks which he believes were
sparked by particular issues and rumors spreading among the
people.
Lopa deplored the fact that people resorted to brutal measures
before confirming rumors. Innocent bystanders often become
victims as a result, he said.
"Apparently there are still people in this country who like
spreading malicious rumors," he remarked.
Though Lopa did not specify incidents, parts of the country
have been rocked recently by limited but violent episodes of mob
frenzy stemming from religious or ethnic issues.
A fortnight ago the quiet town of Situbondo, East Java, was
hit by a religious riot which saw a dozen churches burned down.
Dili was rocked a few days ago by a stabbing incident between
a local trader and his migrant competitor.
Lopa said his visit to East Timor had nothing to do with the
latest incident, but he stressed the need for local government to
anticipate and quell the rise of insidious rumors which may
destabilize the harmony and unity of the people.
Lopa said his visit was to inspect the running of the recently
opened branch of the Commission in Dili. He was accompanied by
fellow Commission members Clementino dos Reis Amaral and A.A.
Baramuli.
"The working visit is to see what has been done by the office
here and how far they have progressed in implementing the set
programs. We also want to see what obstacles the office here
face," Lopa explained.
When asked if the Commission would be looking into the fracas
following the stabbing, Lopa said the Commission would only do so
at the community's request. So far there has been no request.
He said the incident was being handled by police and the
Commission would not intervene into the affairs of another
department unless there were calls to do so, or a blatant
violation of human rights.
"If there is such a report the Commission will act on it
accordingly," he said. (mds)