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.