Sweden envoy praises rights commission

Sweden envoy praises rights commission

JAKARTA (JP): Sweden praised Indonesia's National Commission
on Human Rights and promised to assist with a campaign to promote
human rights, yesterday.

Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Michael Lindstrom delivered
the praise and promise at a meeting with the commission's members
in Jakarta.

Accompanied by Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute
(RWI) of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the Lund University
in Sweden, Goran Melander, and deputy Secretary of the Swedish
Embassy Hakan Jonsson, the ambassador met newly elected
commission chairman Munawir Sjadzali, deputy chairman Marzuki
Darusman and commission members B.N. Marbun and Saafrudin Bahar.

Lindstrom said Sweden had a long history of human rights
protection, dating back to the 1800s, when a group of Swedish
lawyers began receiving reports on human rights violations from
the public.

The ambassador said the assistance would come in the form of
exchanges of information and experience on human rights cases and
protection. Sweden would also provide books on human rights
affairs.

"This sharing of experiences is needed since both Indonesia
and Sweden have differences as well similarities in human rights
protection," he said.

He denied ulterior motives for the promised assistance.

The National Commission on Human Rights was established by
presidential decree in Dec. 1993. It was initially treated with
skepticism from human rights activists, because it was
government-sponsored and financed by the State Secretariat.

The public gradually warmed to the commission as its members
have displayed both independence and courage. Analysts now say
the commission has earned so much respect and trust that people
now turn to it to air their grievances rather than go to
legislative councils or security officials. (imn)