The right over development

The right over development

From Merdeka

Mulya Lubis in his article in Analisis (a magazine published by CSIS) No. 5/1993 reveals the dichotomy in the attitude assumed by the Indonesian government toward human rights. An example given in the article is the dichotomy between civil and political rights, on one hand, and economic, social and cultural rights, on the other, in the prevailing development concept.

Lubis further says in his article that although in the Jakarta Message, which expresses the stance of nonaligned countries, the stance taken by the Indonesian government also seems to underline the principle that there is no dichotomy between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

However, a more profound study of the Jakarta Message will reveal that this dichotomy is still prevalent. Stating that economic development is a prerequisite for the promotion and protection of human rights means that in the interest of economic development, some noneconomic rights, such as civil and political rights, may well be set aside.

Lubis has also found the same phenomenon in the manuscript of the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), which firmly places economic development above noneconomic development. Things still get worse, according to Lubis, because in practice, economic development is always seen as an effort to increase economic growth and not one made to redistribute productive assets in society.

From what has been described above, one can see that the government has belittled the definition of the essential right of development, which developing countries, including Indonesia, have been vigorously fighting for in the United Nations forum.

The essential right of development should be defined as the entire process of economic development in a broad sense, taking into account all aspects of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Development must be interpreted as comprehensive and multidimensional.

I have brought up this matter in order that it may draw the attention of members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) now actively discussing and debating various bills and noisily touting that they are on a mission to see that human rights be expressly stipulated in a product of MPR.

If the Golkar faction in MPR persistently refuses a special decree on human rights and is of the opinion that putting the human rights issue in a decree in the GBHN will suffice, let's see how far they will go in redefining the concept of development.

ANDREAS ISWINARTO

Solidaritas Bunga Matahari

(Sunflower Solidarity)

Jakarta