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Call for the ratification of the Convention on the protection of all persons from enforced/involuntary disappearance
Joint Press Release - March 23, 2007
We gladly applaud Indonesia government’s planning to prevent the practice of disappearance by signing and ratifying international convention on the protection of all persons from enforced/involuntary disappearance. Signature and ratification of such important convention shall be undertaken as soon as possible to prevent such cruel and inhuman practice occurring again in the next future as well as a new breakthrough toward the impasse of the 1997/1998 involuntary/enforce disappeared case which is now in Parliament and General Attorney’s office.
As many may have known, Indonesia government plans to sign the convention since Minister of Law and Human Rights, Hamid Awaluddin–as official representative of Indonesia government-delivered speech during High Level Segment of UN Human Rights Council in Geneve, 12 March 2007.
Indonesia government’s planning to sign and ratify the convention shall be integrated with the effort to break the impasse toward the case of 1997/1998 disappearance. The signature and reservation of the convention shall be in line with families of the disappeared’s struggle to demand Indonesia government resolve the case of their loved one. 1997/1998 disappeared case is now waiting for the international support to proceed to the following step.
National Human Rights Commission has reported that the 13 victims of disappeared are still alive since they don’t receive any clues regarding their death. For the fate of the 13 victims, we demand President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take prompt and urgent action by commanding General Attorney to follow up Commission’s report. We demand General Attorney to investigate and inquiry the case immediately, without delay. We deeply regret that up till now, General Attorney does not show any willingness to conduct their obligation to deal with the case.
Therefore it’s the supreme right of the families and us to use international mechanism, such as general allegation and clarification of the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared person via UNWGEID (United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance)
We would like also to reiterate our demand. Indonesia government shall invite UNWGEID to come to Indonesia. This initiative will show the commitment and concern of Indonesia government to cooperate with UN, particularly its human rights bodies.
Jakarta, 23 March 2007
KontraS, IKOHI, HRWG and Families of Disappeared
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10110
Indonesia
Subject: Request to Sign International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced/involuntary Disappearance.
Dear Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
We, undersigned NGO, are coalition for ratification of the convention on the protection of all persons from enforced/involuntary disappearance. We expect government of Indonesia to sign the international convention as soon as possible. We request you to show your concern to involuntary/enforced disappearance issues by signing the afore-mentioned convention this month, March 2007 at the latest.
Indonesian’s signature and support to the convention on March 2007 will be a honour and guarantee for the victims and family of disappeared because on March 1998, for the first time, enforced/involuntary disappearance raised as crucial issues. Since then, Indonesian society began to realize that there are many disappeared cases that need to be solved.
The recognition and reservation of the convention will mark an important step toward the ratification of the convention. This initiative will indicate the concern and seriousness of the Indonesian government on the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly on the issue of involuntary/enforced disappearance.
International Convention on The Protection of All Persons From Enforced/Involuntary Disappearance is result of long-way struggle of international community, particularly UN member states, including Indonesia and family of the disappeared. This is the proposed universally binding instrument intended to address the issue of involuntary disappearance. Once adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and ratified by the United Nations member-states, it will be legally binding among all States that have ratified it. It will clearly enshrine those legal obligations of States which are critical for the prevention of persons from being caused to disappear According to the new instrument, each State Party shall codify enforced disappearance as an autonomous offence under its criminal law. The convention provides mechanism and legal instrument to prevent gross violation of human rights whom international community condemns as hostis humanis generics.
Indonesia’s support and commitment over the convention have been stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hassan Wirajuda, during his speech in high level segment of UN Human Rights Council, on June 2006. In the UN general assembly’s meeting on December 2006 in New York, Indonesia was also a co-sponsor of the convention. On 12 March 2007 during his speech in UN High Level Segment of Human Rights Council, in Geneve, Switzerland, Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights, Hamid Awaluddin explicitly stated that Indonesian government will sign the convention.
For us, the convention is very important and Indonesia’s contribution on signing the convention will show the commitment and seriousness of the government on promotion and protections of human rights, particularly on the issues of protection of all persons from enforced/involuntary disappearance. In the international level, Indonesia’s registration to the convention will strengthen its position in the UN Human Rights Council.
Based on above consideration, we urge Indonesia government to sign International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on 30 March 2007 at the latest as an important step toward the ratification.
We believe that you share many of our concerns and we sincerely hope you will act promptly on our requests. Your concern and commitment will advance the struggle on protection and promotion of human rights.
Jakarta, 23 March 2007
NGO coalition for ratification of the convention on the protection of all persons from enforced/involuntary disappearance