THE United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) was established in 2006 to replace the N Commission on Human Rights and redress its shortcomings, especially regarding objectivity and politicization. Indonesia served two terms in the HRC: first as an initial ember from 2006 for a one-year term, and second for a full three-year term from 007 to 2010. In 2011, Indonesia is planning to run for a third term of membership in
the Council. To that end, Indonesia must convince again the General Assembly of its ommitment to the highest standards of promotion and protection of human rights.

 

Member States will assess Indonesia’s prior contribution to the HRC and progress in mproving its human rights situation domestically.
For that purpose, it is necessary for the civil society to have in hand a document utlining, first, Indonesia’s level of fulfillment of its voluntary pledges and commitments s well as recommendations from the UPR Working Group; second, a record of positions aken by Indonesia on important international human rights issues, both on thematic ssues and country situations.

On 12 April 2007, The Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the UN addressed the ndonesia’s Voluntary Pledges and Commitments to the President of the UNGA. There are at least 6 pledges and commitments at the national level. First, Indonesia pledged to dvocating and promoting freedom of religion and tolerance. Second, strengthening nstitutional framework, including ensure the independent and empowerment of the ational Human Rights Commission, and also pursue the empowerment of the newly established local human rights commissions at the provincial and district levels. Third, ecognizing the important role of the free and dynamic press and critical role of the GO. Fourth, Indonesia promised to continue the ratification of international nstruments and the harmonization of domestic laws with international norms. Fifth, ndonesia would also maintain its active support for the protecting women’s rights and he rights of the child, particularly in the efforts to eliminate discrimination and violence gainst women, as well as its fight against human trafficking at the national, regional and international levels. Sixth, Indonesia pledged to the further strengthening of good overnance and the rule of law, by enhancing the effectiveness of its legal institutions.

PADA tahun 2010, dengan bantuan dana dari HIVOS, MADIA mengambil inisiatif untuk melakukan FGD (Focus Group Discussion) di Tegal, dan Cigugur-Kuningan, bekerjasama dengan pengurus HPK (Himpunan Penghayat Kepercayaan) dan BKOK (Badan Kerjasama Organisasi-organisasi Kepercayaan). Kedua FGD tersebut diniatkan untuk menggali dan mendokumentasikan pengalaman diskriminasi yang selama ini dialami para penghayat kepercayaan terhadap Tuhan Yang Maha Esa. Diharapkan dengan basis data tersebut, langkahlangkah trategis guna melakukan advokasi terhadap hak-hak konstitusional para penghayat apat dilakukan. Kertas posisi ini disusun berdasarkan data yang berhasil dikumpulkan.

Ijinkan saya, atas nama pengurus dan aktivis MADIA, mengucapkan terima kasih khususnya kepada tim penulis yang telah bekerja keras menyelesaikan Kertas Posisi ini. Terima kasih epada HIVOS yang telah mendukung seluruh proses acara dan HRWG (Human Rights orking Group) yang berkenan menerbitkan Kertas Posisi ini. Terima kasih tak terhingga pula epada komunitas Padepokan Wulan Tumenggal di Tegal dan komunitas Sunda Wiwitan di igugur, serta para penghayat yang telah menerima dan berbagi cerita dengan kami.

 

Semoga  perjuangan kita semua untuk membangun tatanan kehidupan bersama yang lebih berkeadilan an bermartabat di Indonesia tidak sia-sia.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | The Indonesian Ombudsman says the Bogor city administration is at fault for annulling the construction permit given to the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI).

The Ombudsman’s office said the annulment that was issued by Bogor’s mayor on March 11 violated the law and disregarded a Supreme Court ruling on the dispute.

“The Bogor city administration should have adhered to the Supreme Court’s ruling, which is binding on the disputing parties,” ombudsman representative Budi Santosa said.

Based on its findings, the ombudsman recommended that the city administration immediately revoke the decree that annulled the permit.

“According to the law, the Bogor city administration is required to report to the ombudsman on the implementation of the recommendation within 60 days after the administration receives the recommendation,” Budi told reporters on Monday.

The congregation of GKI Yasmin has conducted Sunday services on a sidewalk near its half-finished church since April 10 in protest of the administration’s decision to seal off the site a month earlier due to public pressure.
Some Muslim residents who lived near the construction site previously alleged that church officials falsified their signatures when applying for the building permit.

The congregation succumbed to public pressure in January by temporarily holding services at the Harmoni public hall after Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto vowed to open the church if the Supreme Court ruled in the congregation’s favor.

On Dec. 9, 2010, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision ordering that construction on the church halt.

Bogor administration secretary Bambang Gunawan recently told The Jakarta Post that the administration viewed the church building permit as illegal despite the Supreme Court’s decision.

“For us, the permit is illegal because the signatures required for the permit were forged,” he said.

The congregation resumed worship on the street near the church site after the Bogor administration showed no signs of obeying the ruling.

According to GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging, a multitude of plants and a wooden fence appeared on the sidewalk on Sunday, preventing the congregation from holding services.

“GKI Yasmin was forced to hold Sunday services in an open field across the street,” Bona said.

Ombudsman office chairman Danang Girindrawardana said that the GKI Yasmin case would be taken to a higher political level if the Bogor city administration failed to obey the recommendation before the deadline.

“The recommendation is the highest level order that the Ombudsman can issue. If the Bogor city administration fails to fulfill it in 60 days, we will leave it to the provincial administration. It could go as far as the Home Ministry — and even to the House of Representatives or the President,” Danang said.

Danang said that his office would monitor and cooperate with the Bogor city administration to implement the recommendation.

Bambang Gunawan said that the administration would try to implement the recommendation.

“We will study and try to carry out the recommendation optimally,” Bambang said.

“We have to be very careful because this is related to a matter of religion, which is very sensitive,” he added. (rcf)

TEMPO Interactive, Jayapura:Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Erfi Triassunu said on Wednesday he suspected trained, armed civilians behind the 12 July shootout in the Puncak Jaya terrains of Papua which, left 5 Army officers injured. "There was crossfire on July 12, and five officers were injured. We believe some 20 people were conducting shootings near the Bukit Lima Jari hills [of Puncak Jaya]," Triassunu told reporters in Jayapura.

The forested areas of Bukit Lima Jari are hilly and steep, and armed civilians are believed to know their way around the area pretty well, Erfi said.