Eko Ari Wibowo, Jakarta – The Executive Organization of People's Advocacy Studies (ELSAM), an organization of human rights activists, is urging that the government shortly forms a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation.

The House of Representatives (DPR) should use its right of inquiries as part of its responsibility in legalizing the Law on Commission of Truth and Reconciliation Number 27/2004.

"The government should have formed the commission six months after the law was legalized," said I Gusti Agung Putri, the Director of ELSAM at the Ibis Tamarin Hotel, Wednesday (11/10).

Gusti Agung said that Law on Commission and Reconciliation was legalized on 6 October 2004, however, the government is yet to establish the commission. If the government does not form the commission soon, he said, there will be many denials regarding human rights violation in the past.

"Denials are around, now. In fact, perpetrators of human rights cases have even been released,' he said.

The Commission of Truth and Reconciliation must be established soon because the government does not have excuses to delay it.

As regards the delay caused by the government, said Gusti Agung, the President is yet to recognize the candidates of the commission members. "It's irrational," he said.

ELSAM has also urged that DPR and the President be more tangible in forming the commission by allocating funds in the state budget.