Selasa, 16 Agustus 2005

RI Carrying Burdens Over Unresolved Human Rights Cases : President

Jakarta ( Berita ) : Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that the government is carrying the weight of the various unresolved cases of human rights violations that occurred in the past.

Speaking before the Plenary Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Tuesday, the president said that part of those cases has been tried and sentenced by the judicative institutions.

He was delivering the government statement on the State Budget for the 2006 Year and its Financial Note.

"Part of those cases has been tried and sentenced by the judicative institutions. Part of those cases is still in the investigative stage. As long as those cases can be brought to court, the Government will then transmit the said cases," the head of state said.

He said that those cases, which evidence are difficult to obtain, will be submitted to the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, which establishment will soon be completed.

According the president, the government realizes that there are various dissapointments in relation to the sentences of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court regarding cases of gross violation of human rights, prior to and immediately after the act of free choice, in East Timor in 1999.

"The Government is also following closely the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, to establish a commision of experts to assess the court proceedings of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court,"Yudhoyono added.

However, he said, the Government firmly believes that the settlement of those cases of human rights violations in East Timor in 1999 could take an alternative settlement through the Commission on Truth and Friendship, which has been established jointly by the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Timor Leste, and was formally officiated on 11 August.

Through this commission, both governments wish the truth to be found and reconciliation promoted. Both governments wish relations between the two countries could be more directed to the future, not the past, the head of state sadi.

In the effort to revamp the rule of law, the Government expects a close cooperation with the House to run the program of national legislation.

The government, he said, will continue revamping the apparatus of the law enforcers, and revamp the legal instruments and infrastructure in the context of upholding the authority of the law.

"We are both determined to respect, protect, uphold, and comply with human rights. The amendments to the 1945 Constitution have also incorporated articles on human rights that are quite complete. I have signed the Bills to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, for us to enact soon," he said. ( ant )