Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The appointment of noted human rights activists as members of the Democratic Party's new leadership structure is nothing but "window dressing" to cover the ruling party's failure to improve the country's human rights records, activists say.
The party's newly appointed chairman, Anas Usbaningrum, who is also a former Muslim activist, recently announced the party's new team, which included noted rights activists Todung Mulya Lubis and Rachland Nashidik.
Todung, the chairman of Transparency International Indonesia (TII) and founder of rights group Imparsial, was appointed a member of the party's advisory council. Rachland, who once led Imparsial, was appointed secretary of the human rights protection and development department.
Anas also approached rights activist Usman Hamid to join the board, although Usman turned down the offer just prior to the announcement of the line up.
Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said President Susilo Bambang Yudhyoyono's Democratic Party was attempting to project the image that the party was concerned with human rights and democracy by putting a number of activists in its organizational committee.
"Yudhoyono's human rights record is poor. No serious efforts have been made to probe past rights abuse cases," he said.
Hendardi said the party was hoping the involvement of Rachland in the party would boost Yudhoyono's unimpressive human rights record. "The decision by the activists to join the party was an individual choice.
But to transform this oligarchic party is a dream. The country's political cartel will undermine activism. The activists have been trapped. They will have no significant influence," he said.
Rachland was a former executive director of Imparsial, one of the largest rights groups in the country. He left the NGO in April to enter politics. He was not available for comment Sunday.
Imparsial executive director Poengky Indarti said Rachland's appointment would not hamper the NGO's struggle to promote human rights. "Just like its name, Imparsial will remain impartial and independent," she told The Jakarta Post.
Poengky praised Rachland's decision to resign before officially join the party. "Hopefully he will bring an understanding of and promote human rights in the party," she said, adding that Rachland's decision to join the party was his own choice and not endorsed by Impartial.
Usman, the coordinator of the National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), confirmed that Anas had offered him a post in the party, but declined it.
He said he had frequently spoken with Anas in the past few weeks about ideas on human rights and protection for marginalized people.
"I've made up my mind. I think it would be better both for me and Anas to split the job. I will use non-political means while Anas uses political ways," Usman told the Post.
Anas said the move to involve activists was proof that the Democratic Party was an open party. "We are looking at all available potential leaders in order to create a strong political entity for the benefit of this party in the future," he said.