YLBHI gives the thumbs down to rights record

YLBHI gives the thumbs down to rights record

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
yesterday gave the thumbs down to Indonesia's human rights record
in 1996.

The year was marked by violence, foundation chairman Bambang
Widjojanto said at a news conference to give his assessment of
the outgoing year.

Violence has become part of the country's social and political
affairs, Bambang said.

He laid the blame on the government for violating people's
basic rights. "The authorities played a significant role in human
right violations here." he said.

The low-point of the year was the July 27 riot in Jakarta,
which he described as one of the most violent to ever hit the
capital city.

Five people were killed and 23 people went missing in the riot
which erupted after the forced takeover of the Indonesian
Democratic Party headquarters by supporters of government-
supported chairman Soerjadi.

Bambang said the riot in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, in
April, was another violent incident that affected the country's
reputation for the observation of human rights, he said.

In that incident, about 10,000 students protesting against the
city administration's plan for a massive hike in bus fares,
clashed with soldiers.

According to the government's report, three students died with
severe bruises on their bodies. Twelve 12 soldiers were court-
martialled for their part in the incident.

The National Commission on Human Rights conducted
investigations into both riots and the results confirmed that
human rights violations were committed.

Bambang said that during the year, there were incidents in
which the government violated people's right to freedom of
expression and to form associations, both of which are guaranteed
by the constitution.

He also recalled the government's poor treatment of non-
governmental organizations (NGOs).

"The government violated the principle of presumption of
innocence against a number of NGOs," he said.

He cited the time when the government accused 13 NGOs of
masterminding the abduction of foreign and local researchers in
the jungles of Irian Jaya earlier this year.

Another time, the government charged 30 NGOs, affiliated under
the Indonesian People's Council, with being "problematic",
accusing them of being involved in the July 27 riots.

Bambang deplored the government's continued use of the anti-
subversion law in silencing its critics.

"Charging labor activist Muchtar Pakpahan and student activist
Budiman Sudjatmiko with subversion is not acceptable," he said.
"The law was a product of the Dutch colonial government," he
added.

The foundation said there were occasions when the people
themselves were involved in human rights violations, such as in
the riots that hit many cities during the year.

Frans Hendra Winarta, a member of the foundation's executive
board, said most of these riots were triggered by disenchantment
with the arbitrary actions of security officers.

"Their anger is the product of a long tug-of-war between the
political elites and groups who are critical of the government,"
he said. (imn)