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