Rights Commission's busy schedule

Rights Commission's busy schedule

Barring any unforeseen developments, the National Commission on Human Rights will send teams to four locations in East Java by the end of this month. Each area is suffering from protracted land disputes which have brought great misery to many people. The four locations in question are Raci (Pasuruan), Tubanan, Dukuh Kupang and Simogunung Kramat, all in the Surabaya area.

The commission's visits will not, according to commission member Soetandyo Wignyosubroto, be aimed at determining who is in the right and who is in the wrong since a formal institution for that purpose already exists. "We merely want to make sure that the human aspect in those cases be given due consideration," Soetandyo said.

"Human aspect" is the key phrase. It is also the aspect that is normally overlooked in land disputes which lead to sharp conflicts between the people who are being evicted and government officials. The officials always bring in the standard and cliche argument that the occupied land is "state-owned land", that the people are "illegally" occupying it and that it is now to be used for purposes that serve "development".

Thus, in the name of "development" -- which tends to be accorded the highest value, surpassing that of everything else -- people are ordered off the land, often by means that offend humanitarian feelings.

"Development" thus becomes something cold, impersonal and seemingly isolated from the people -- whom development is supposed to serve. With such a commitment to humanity, we would like to welcome the commission's visit to East Java next week, a group now enjoying an ever-growing trust from the people.

-- Republika, Jakarta