It's ironic Indonesia refuses to appropriately respond to United Nations' moves to investigate alleged gross crimes against humanity in this country, despite its membership with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNCHR).
What is more worrying is there has been no sign of change in the government's mind-set, nor any appearance of guilt.
The country's status quo was made public during a recent and frustrated statement made by UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, Philip Alston.
Indonesia has repeatedly pushed back UN efforts to question the serious human rights violations alleged to have occurred in the past, Alston said in his report. Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also made such denials, but their level of cooperation with the UN rapporteur is understandably beyond comparison with that of Indonesia's.
Indonesia, despite its role in the UNCHR, has failed to face its responsibilities and continues to fulfill its image as a nation that provides impunity to suspected perpetrators of past human rights abuses.
There have been many extrajudicial killings that have remained unresolved. And to make matter worse, all the administrations since Soeharto have lacked the political will or ability to seek out the truth surrounding these crimes – let alone bring any perpetrators to justice.
The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dragged its feet around the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Dozens of government critics are still missing.
Thousands of people continue to suffer a communist stigma. And many other victims of violence in Aceh, Papua, Jakarta and elsewhere have been fighting for justice to no avail.
Needless to say, the continuing debate over human rights demonstrates the domestic power play between new political elites that emerged following the fall of Soeharto in May 1998 and the remains of the old established force – along with those who would feel insecure if the abuses were settled.
Perhaps only when the ongoing transition from a militaristic style of government to a fully-fledged democracy is completed will the dark side of our history be unraveled.
If alleged gross human rights violations at home are consistently denied, it should be no surprise the recent conflict in Myanmar failed to see our policy makers raise the issue internationally.
Indonesia has opted to waste a golden opportunity to see Myanmar become a key issue as the republic prepares to become UN Security Council presidency next month. Such lack-luster diplomacy will discourage a concerted international effort to address the Myanmar issue. But fortunately, Myanmar should receive a lifeline when UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari makes a second visit to Myanmar next month.
As one of ASEAN's co-founders, Indonesia has been reluctant to take tough measures against the Myanmar military junta, partly because Indonesia's own track record around human rights abuses is not very convincing.
Recent violence in Myanmar saw its military crack down on pro-democracy monks and protesters – actions reminiscent of Indonesia's past. Only if Indonesia can prove it sees human rights abuses as a serious issue, will it manage to convince Myanmar to follow suit.