Jakarta – Indonesian people must continue to speak up against human rights violations committed by their government and other citizens, a rights seminar has concluded.

Executive director of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam), Agung Putri Astrid Kartika, said here Tuesday the country was facing huge challenges in resolving past human rights crimes.

Examples include the incidents in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, in 1984 and in Talang Sari, Lampung, in 1989, and the May riots in Jakarta in 1998. "The challenges are related to the historic manipulation of human rights crimes by the ruling parties and a widespread national aversion to uncovering the truth," she said.

"To overcome such challenges, we have to work hand in hand to keep on campaigning on the issue (human rights violations), not only to the government but also to other Indonesian people who do not know about it yet."

Agung Putri said one way to ensure the fight continued was for the government to form a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Elsam has been lobbying for the establishment of such a commission since 2006.

"We have proposed it once and have not succeeded yet. However, we keep on bringing it up because the idea of establishing the commission is to prevent any violations against human rights resulting from any regulation," she said, adding Elsam's proposal had received support from various quarters, including the governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

Agung Putri said the function of the commission would be to reveal any human rights violations made by authorities by investigating state officers, instruments, systems and budgets.

"The goal of the investigations would be to revise regulations that could lead to violations, and to make the state admit its mistakes," she said.

Commenting on the proposal, Karlina Supelli, lecturer at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy, agreed greater efforts were needed.

"The country needs to make a continuous effort to resolve crimes against humanity. The commission might be a good way to remind everyone about the issue, as long as it promotes peace and caring," said Karlina, who is also a human rights activist for the Voice of Concerned Mothers.

Elsam also urged the government to start protecting Indonesian citizens' social, economic and cultural rights. The aim of such protection is to ensure citizens are not denied their rights to a decent living, education and development, human rights campaigner Atnike Nova Sigiro said.

"To gain that protection, the first step is for Indonesia to acknowledge such rights as part of citizens' rights." (nkn)