House names Komnas HAM Commissioners

Margareth s. Aritonang, Jakarta, Jakarta Post | National | Mon, October 22 2012, 5: 58 PM

House of representatives Commission III on the law and human rights unveiled 13 newly selected Commissioners of the National Commission for human rights (Komnas HAM) on Monday.

Sandrayati Moniaga, an environmental activist and member of the Board Directors of human rights watchdog Institute for research and advocacy (Elsam), secured 48 votes of 51 members of Commission III, the highest among all candidates. Maneger Nasution of the Indonesia Ulama (MUI) garnered 45 votes, while Papua-American activist who natalius Pigai gained 43.

Human rights activist Otto Nur Abdullah and former official at the law and human rights Ministry Ansori Sinungan protected every 42 votes. Muhammad Imdadun Rahmat, the Deputy Secretary-General of the nation's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammad Nur Khoiron of the Desantara Foundation garnered 38 votes, while journalist Siane Indriani got 36 votes.

Member of the Centre for democracy and human rights Studies (demo) Roichatul Aswidah and former law and human rights Director General Hafid Abbas secured 35 votes each.

Lawyer Siti Noor Laila, Consortium for agrarian reform (KPA) Member Komnas HAM Commissioner Nur Kholis Dianto Bachriadi and incumbent garnered 33, 28 and 28 votes, respectively.

Mochamad Soedioto of the Indonesian Association of visually impaired persons (Pertuni), gay-rights activist Dede Utomo, incumbent Commissioner Sandyawan Sumardi Yosep Adi Prasetyo, urban poverty activist and other candidates fell short of making the grade.

The written exam for 30 candidates began on 11 October. Four days later, each applicant underwent a 30-minute interview with members of the Commission III. The new Commissioners are expected to go to work in early November.

Commission III originally intended to choose only 10 new Commissioners Komnas HAM would say that fewer people fit reduced budget of Rp 64.7 billion (US $ 6.7 million) for 2013.

The newly appointed Commissioners who will work from 2012 until 2017, is expected to follow on Komnas HAM findings about the Communist purge of 1965, the unsolved shooting between 1982 and 1985 and the Lapindo mudflow, all of which are categorized as violations of human rights.

Komnas HAM Chairman Ifdhal Kasim also said that the Committee was investigating human rights abuses against the followers of the Shiite community. (lfr)