Meriam Debora, Jakarta – Moves to nominate Indonesia as the head of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and as a permanent member of the Security Council are presumptuous because of the many cases of human rights violations in Indonesia which have yet to be resolved.

This statement was made by the coordinator of the Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Usman Hamid, during a press conference at the Kontras’ offices on Jalan Borobudur Menteng in Central Jakarta on Thursday October 28.

“I think this is positive but the move is presumptuous bearing in mind that Indonesia’s human rights record is not very good. For example the perpetrators of human rights violations in Tanjung Priok1 and East Timor have been released. Not to mention the [question of the] ratification of a number of international conventions such as linking the principle of civil and political rights”, said Hamid.

According to Hamid, if Indonesia is willing to ratify a number of international conventions then it is reasonable for the Indonesian government to nominate itself. “In spite of this we see that there is a good opportunity for Indonesia to become a member of the UN Security Council because of the political situation in [other] Asian [countries] which is no better than Indonesia”, he continued.

Hamid went on to talk about the situation in various Asian countries with regard to human rights. “It’s the turn for an Asian country to become the head of the UN Human Rights Commission for the 61st session next year. India and Pakistan have also nominated themselves to head the commission, but there is still the problem of the conflict in Kashmir and the gross human rights violations [occurring] there. Just recently in Thailand there has been serious crimes against humanity. Singapore does hot have civil liberties and instead tends toward authoritarianism, this is also the case in Malaysia”, he explained.

Nevertheless said Hamid, support does exist for the nomination. “There may be some support, [because] the UN is in a dilemma. On the one side it is indeed Asia’s turn and Indonesia has a good chance because it can be said that it is better than other Asian countries on the issue of human rights. But on the other hand the UN is still not satisfied [with Indonesia’s record] because of the release of perpetrators of human rights crimes in East Timor”, asserted Hamid.

Moreover, in Hamid’s view the Indonesian government will be scorned upon by the international community. “Because on the one side, although it would hold a position of prestige, on the other they are aware that it is true that Indonesia has not fully implemented the country’s [commitment] to advance and protect human rights. Just because Indonesia could holds a position of prestige this does not mean that Indonesia will be exempt from criticism or influence by the international community on efforts to uphold human rights”, said Hamid. (dit)

Notes:

1. On 12 September 1984, dozens of people were killed and injured when troops fired on Muslim demonstrators in the port district of Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. The perpetrators of the killings did not come to trial until 2003-2004 and the majority were released or given extremely light sentences.

[Translated by James Balowski.]