Upholding human rights

Upholding human rights

The lack of will on Indonesia's part to bring human rights
violations in this country to justice has compelled the
international community to involve itself deeper in the issue. It
cannot be denied that the sense of pride runs deep in this
nation. However, it is no longer possible to regard human rights
as a purely local or domestic issue. Whether we like it or not,
human rights has become a universal concern.

To take a lenient attitude toward the issue of human rights,
therefore, is outmoded and would only invite intervention from
the international community, which in turn would tarnish our
nation's image even further. We exist among civilized nations in
an era of a world without boundaries, in which it has become
impossible to hide human rights offenses without other nations
knowing.

Upholding human rights is, therefore, a task imposed on us by
civilization. To perform that task the National Commission on
Human Rights needs fresh blood -- people who are more vocal and
more radical in their actions, because this is the only way we
can hope to improve our human rights image. A number of names
have been proposed and accepted by the Commission. Only the
approval of the House of Representatives remains. Here, however,
is where the problem lies. Will the House, with its reputation
for horse trading, be willing to give its approval to radical
candidates?

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta