The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) will evaluate Mahfud MD’s position as one of its advisory council members, following his appointment as the election campaign team head of candidate pair Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa.
Komnas HAM commissioner Natalius Pigai said Mahfud’s new role could taint the commission’s position as an independent institution that was not affiliated to any political entity.
“We don’t want people to view Komnas HAM as committed to a certain political party. We are clearly an independent institution. Mahfud’s position as the election campaign team head of a presidential-vice presidential candidate pair will likely not be beneficial to the commission,” said Pigai in Jakarta on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
He said the evaluation would be conducted in a plenary meeting.
Pigai said Komnas HAM could not be drawn too far into political matters. Therefore, regarding the upcoming presidential election, the commission could only give recommendations on the human rights-related performances of each candidate pair.
“Anyone who runs for president and vice president must have a strong commitment to upholding human rights. They should not have poor track records regarding human rights-related cases and must have a willingness to resolve past human rights abuses, such as the May 1998 tragedy, Semanggi I and II, as well as the enforced disappearances of pro-democracy activists,” said Pigai.
Mahfud is a member of the commission’s advisory council, which also includes Jimly Ashiddiqie, Saparinah Sadly, Shinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, Nur Hassan Wirajuda, Syafi’i Ma’arif, Makarim Wibisono and Nelles Tebay.
Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/21/komnas-ham-evaluate-mahfud...
