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