TEMPO, Monday, 15 January, 2007 | 13:59 WIB
Indonesia's Human Rights Cases Still Dark
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
Violence (Kontras) supports the investigation and research by the United Nations'
special envoy who will visit Indonesia.
These efforts are expected to bring fresh hope as regards the solutions to alleged
human rights vi! olation cases.
"The parties involved in human rights case solutions in Indonesia are still unknown,"
said Usman Hamid, Kontras Coordinator, when contacted on Friday (12/1).
According to him, it is now time for Indonesia's human rights situation to be evaluated
independently by foreign parties.
From a document received by Tempo, a UN special envoy for torture, Manfred Nowak,
plans to visit Indonesia in November this year.
During his visit, he will meet with all government officials and will also visit prisons in
several conflict areas including Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Maluku, Papua and
Sulawesi, including Poso.
The UN special envoy will also assess some prisoners and the intelligence authorities'
interrogation rooms.
The special envoy will be accompanied by a person from the Human Rights High
Commission, a forensic doctor, two interpreters and a UN guard.
During the research, the envoy will not be always accompanied by government
officials.
This, according to the document, is in order to give the envoy room to carry out his or
her duties.
Usman said the UN special envoy's research will clearly influence human rights in
Indonesia.
He went on to say that as Indonesia has been a member of the UN Human Rights
Council since 2006, it needs to fulfill its commitment.
"This is for our own good," said Usman.
However, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Rear Admiral Muhamad Sunarto
said he has not yet received any information about the planned visit of the special
envoy.
According to him, before the matter reaches TNI, it would be discussed by the
Foreign Affairs Department and the Defense Department.
Sunarto said that the TNI would not allow it to happen just like that.
"We'll see their intention first and consider it according to the procedures," he said.
SANDY INDRA PRATAMA | DIAN YULIASTUTI
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