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)