Health minister fails to meet human rights body's summons

Antara , Jakarta | Mon, 07/07/2008 7:16 PM | National

Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari failed to meet a summons by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas-HAM) to explain a medical report issued by a state-owned hospital on the recent death of a Nasional University (Unas) student.

The Commission sent the minister a summons last week for a meeting on Monday (July 7), but the minister could not come. He has asked for the meeting to be postponed until next week, Nur Kholis from Komnas-HAM said here Monday.

"We have received information from the head of the health ministry's legal and organization bureau asking for the meeting to be delayed until next week," he said.

The minister had to attend a discussion on the draft health law in parliament on Monday. Besides, she has not yet consolidated the medical report on Maftuh's death, he said.

However, he hoped the minister could meet the commission's invitation some time this week, rather than next week, because the Commission will discuss the issue at its plenary meeting on
July 15, 2008.

The health minister's presence is important for the Commission to get information on Maftuh's death, who is suspected to have died due to police violence, he said.

"Up to now, the cause of Maftuh's death is still unclear. Therefore, we need information about the medical report from the Health Ministry. The information will be combined with findings
from the field or Kebumen, Central Java, where the autopsy of Maftuh's body was carried out," he said.

Maftuh Fauzi was among a number of students who demonstrated against government's decision to raise fuel oil prices in front of the parliament building on June 24, 2008. He was believed to have sustained fatal injuries due to police brutality against the students.(**)

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