Rights trial regulations 'signed before first hearing'

Rights trial regulations 'signed before first hearing'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

To let the human rights trial proceed unhindered, the
government plans to issue two regulations on witness protection,
along with rehabilitation and compensation for victims of human
rights abuses, before the tribunal begins on March 14.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erman Radjaguguk said on Thursday
that the two regulations would be submitted to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri for approval shortly.

"We want to see that the two regulations take effect, so that
when the trial begins, all witnesses and victims receive equal
treatment," Erman told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The ad hoc tribunal was established to try 18 military, police
and civilian officials in connection with the atrocities which
took place in East Timor after a popular vote for independence in
September 1999.

The much-awaited trial was initially supposed to start in
September. But the government delayed the proceedings on a number
of occasions -- most recently last week, when the government
asked for more time to complete the two regulations.

The regulation on witness protection obliges the state to
provide witnesses and victims with protection from any physical
harm or psychological threats.

The government regulation on the rehabilitation and
compensation says that the state will pay for the hospital or any
treatment needed by victims of human rights abuse.

"Of course there are certain requirements to claim the
payment, apart from the tolerable limits on the compensation," he
continued.

During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Minister for Justice and
Human Rights Yusril Izha Mahendra urged the President to issue
the two regulations as soon as possible to ensure the
effectiveness of the tribunal.

Technicalities in the draft, such as the conduct of the while
in the witness protection program and granting the police
authorization to execute the program, are among the items being
finalized at the State Secretary's office.

"I told the President that we hope that the two government
regulations be endorsed before the trial commences," Yusril told
reporters.

Yusril admitted that failure to enforce the regulations before
the tribunal would hurt Indonesia's credibility in the eyes of
the international community.

The minister is scheduled to attend the human rights
convention in Geneva at the end of this month.

"We're racing against time. I must be able to explain what is
being done in Indonesia at the Human Rights Commission
convention," he said.