Arry Anggadha, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) says that law enforcement agencies are incapable of upholding human rights in Indonesia. LBH is urging the government, law enforcement agencies and the people’s representatives to be become more serious about upholding human rights.

“LBH is also urging the government and the people’s representatives to reactivate the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to become a positive legal stipulation”.

This was conveyed in a statement read by the director of LBH Jakarta, Uli Parullian Sihombing, on December 9 during a commemoration of International Human Rights Day which will fall tomorrow on December 10. The event took place at the Youth Amphitheater in North Jakarta on Jalan Yos Sudarso on Thursday night.

Also present was Rieke “Oneng” Dyah Pitaloka who presented a poetry composition on human rights and Iwan Fals who sang five songs, one of which was about recently murdered human rights activist Munir.

According to Sihombing, year by year the human rights situation in Indonesia has shown a decline in terms of quality and quantity. “This situation has been worsened by the incapacity of law enforcement agencies to make the maximum contribution to upholding human rights”, he said.

The commemoration also featured the presentation of the LBH award to Jauhari, a railway crossing guard who in 1997 was dismissed without receiving any pension whatsoever. Jauhari was of accused of being negligent in carrying out his duties and as a result causing a train accident.

The event was also attended by clients of LBH such as victims of the Indonesian Communist Party, Tanjung Priok and Valun Gong who are presently seeking international assistance from China in relation to their cases. (fab)

[Translated by James Balowski.]