RI elected to UN rights council again

Abdul Khalik

Despite local and international civil society organizations voicing concerns over continued violence against minorities and civilians in Indonesia, the country was voted into the UN Human Rights Council after collecting the largest number of votes in the selection process.

In a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, 184 of the 191 UN members eligible to vote elected Indonesia as a member, the biggest number of votes among the 15 newly elected members, which includes three other Asian representatives — India, the Philippines and Kuwait.

Kuwait stepped into the race last week after Western countries persuaded Arab states that Syria was not a suitable candidate.

Indonesia’s 2011-2014 term is its third in the council since it was formed in 2006.

“Indonesia’s election as a member for the third time and with the largest votes reaffirms the international community’s recognition of the strength of the country’s process of democracy and human rights protection and advancement,” Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa claimed Saturday.

“The election also reflects international appreciation of Indonesia’s role and leadership in fighting for human rights agenda in regional and global forums. In the last decade, human rights have become a priority in Indonesia’s foreign policy priority,” he added.

The 47-nation Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, is the main UN body charged with monitoring member states’ compliance with international rights norms.

Indonesia’s election, however, was cautiously welcomed by human right activists and experts.

University of Indonesia international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana urged Indonesia to use its new role to fix human rights conditions in the county.

“We should immediately solve all past human rights abuse cases so no doubts linger,” he said.

Hikmahanto questioned the availability of funds and public and bureaucracy support for Indonesia’s activism in foreign affairs.

“Where do we get the money for all the events and activities that we are now very active in? We are the chair of ASEAN with many meetings to host. We will soon host a Non-Aligned Movement event. This is not only the Foreign Ministry’s job, but also other ministries and the public as a whole,” he said.

Prominent human rights activist Hendardi urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately take a tough stance against those who use force and violence to attack religious minorities. He said such blatant human rights violations ruined Indonesia’s “achievements” and “image” at the international level.

On Thursday, UN Watch listed Indonesia, along with the Philippines, India and Burkina Faso, as having questionable qualifications, while the advocacy group said Kuwait, Nicaragua and the Congo were unqualified to sit on the UN’s top human rights body.


(2011-5-22/The Jakarta Post)