The rights commission's recommendations
The latest statement issued last Saturday by the National Commission on Human Rights regarding the July 27th incident displays some interesting points. The commission stated that five people were killed, 149 injured and 23 went missing. These figures differ from those of commission's initial findings, which listed five people killed, 49 injured and 74 missing.
Aside from the statistical discrepancies, however, what makes the new statement all the more interesting is the recommendations made in the context of the July 27th incident. Two notable recommendations of importance are: first, that any internal problems affecting an organization be settled in accordance with its statutes and without government interference; second, that the use of force be avoided. In the case of it being impossible to resolve a conflict through deliberation, a legal course should be taken.
The importance of these two recommendations becomes clear when one considers the conditions that affect our sociopolitical organizations at present. With the exception of Golkar, other existing sociopolitical organizations are frequently beset by internal conflicts which tend to assume a highly frontal and open character.
Irrespective of whatever factors may fuel their conflicts -- whether they be of an internal or external nature -- it would be proper for the government, in its capacity as custodian of domestic politics, to try to act as a neutral arbiter. Siding with one of the factions in a conflict, in whatever form, will never resolve the problem. Perhaps for a while the situation may be muffled, but the potential for conflict will reemerge and explode when the time is ripe.
What is needed, however, is not just good sense on the part of the government alone. Even more important is a willingness on the part of the conflicting parties to act like adults. Only with maturity is it possible to bring the parties together and find a way out. And if this cannot be done, the best way would be to take legal steps. This, however, presumes that the existing legal system is capable of taking a neutral, objective and independent stance.
-- Republika, Jakarta