Yap Thian Hiem award suspended

Yap Thian Hiem award suspended

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At the very least, the Yap Thiam Hien Award has validated the
work of human rights defenders in this country.

However, there is a possibility that the prestigious annual
award presentation will be absent this year, due to financial
constraints.

In a press statement made available to The Jakarta Post, the
committee said there would be no Yap Thiam Hien Award
presentation this year. The presentation used to coincide with
the commemoration of International Human Rights Day that falls on
Dec. 10.

Noted lawyer and human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, who
is a member of the committee board, said there were not enough
funds available to carry on the tradition.

"Therefore, all activities related to the Yap Thiam Hien Award
2005, such as the selection process, publication and award
ceremony, cannot be held either," said the statement, dated Dec.
2.

Todung, however, refused to comment on Monday, saying the
issue was still being discussed.

"It's not been decided yet," he told the Post, adding that
there would be an official statement issued.

Named after the uncompromising human rights advocate who died
in 1989, the award was first given in 1992. Aside from a trophy,
the winner is also given a cash prize, which last year amounted
to Rp 50 million (around US$5,000).

Past winners include the late labor activist Marsinah, who was
awarded posthumously, the late rights activist Munir, the Urban
Poor Consortium, and anti-discrimination activist Ester Jusuf
Purba.

Over the past three years, however, sponsorship from a number
of multinational companies has sparked criticism, including from
the awardees themselves.

Last year, the family of a past winner, the late artist Wiji
Thukul, expressed their objection to the award being funded by
mining giant Rio Tinto, saying the company was involved in
several human rights violations, evictions and environmental
destruction.

Rio Tinto's communication officer Anang R. Noor told the Post
that despite the criticism, the company would never retract its
sponsorship. This year, however, the Australian-based company
says it never received a funding proposal from the committee.

"Last year, we received the proposal from the committee in the
fasting month, or around November. But so far, there has been no
proposal," he said.

Past awardees were concerned that the award would not made
this year, as aside from recognition of the works of human
rights, the award has pushed marginalized human rights issues to
the surface.

Ester, who was among the 2001 awardees, said the award had
raised the problems of racial discrimination and inspired young
people to work harder in upholding human rights.

"If it is true that financial constraints are the reason, then
that's unfortunate," she said.

One of last year's winners, Kompas newspaper journalist Maria
Hartiningsih, said it was better to give the event a miss this
year rather than holding it without a good preparation.

"I don't know about the financial constraints. But there was
an impression in the past that it was organized hastily," she
said.