Jakarta – The Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – TNI) is still failing to respect human rights enforcement. This is evident from the recent promotion of several officers who are still involved in cases of human rights abuses.

Rachland Nashidik, Executive Director of Imparsial, expressed this opinion at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

"The appointment of officers who are still considered as being involved in human rights abuses raises a number of questions," he said. "Why is the TNI not promoting other officers who are more professional?" he asked.

The senior officers whose roles are still under a cloud are former commander of Kopassus, Major-General Sriyanto, who has been promoted to become commander of the Siliwangi Command (Kodam III), and infantry colonel, Chairawan, who has been promoted to become commander of Lilawangsa district command (Korem 011) in Aceh.

According to Rachland, Sriyanto's case is still being handled by the courts in connection with the violation of human rights in the Tanjung Priok case (1984); the case is now at the appeal stage before the Supreme Court.

Chairawan was commander of Group IV of Kopassus at the time when a number of activists were abducted in 1998. The army's Officer's Honour Council sacked Chairawan from his post as Group IV commander at the time.

"The recent appointment of these officers shows that the TNI has failed to respect the voices and experiences of the victims and families confronted by human rights abuses," said Rachland. He therefore questioned the level of professionalism in the TNI about which so much is being said there days.

The public also have the right to know the track record of TNI officers, especially those who are still facing cases in the area of the law.

Rachland also said it was necessary for the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to continue to investigate human rights cases. The Commission should also pay attention to promotions within the armed forces.

According to Rachland, in the Philippines, full attention is paid to the opinions of the Human Rights Commission in the promotion of senior officers, he said.