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Vacancies for Komnas HAM commissioner posts draw little interest
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The power of words -- Members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) selection team, Siti Musdah Mulia (left), Makarim Wibisono (second left), Bambang Widodo Umar (second right) and Zoemrotin K. Susilo (right), report on progress in the selection process during a visit to The Jakarta Post on Thursday. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
O
nly three Indonesian citizens have applied for commissioner posts with the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) since the application period began almost a month ago.
Selection team member Zumrotin K. Susilo, who is also a prominent rights activist, expressed disappointment with the lack of interest in positions that have been vacant since Dec. 22.
Komnas HAM is looking for dedicated citizens with a high standard of ethics to lead Indonesia’s human rights protection efforts.
“From our experience as the selection team, candidates often apply only in the last week before the deadline,” Zumrotin told The Jakarta Post in the selection team’s visit on Thursday.
As announced on the commission’s website, komnasham.go.id, the deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 22.
“We want to remind people who want to make changes to Komnas HAM, and those who have integrity and dreams for a better performance of the body, to please register themselves as candidates,” said Zumrotin, who served as Komnas HAM commissioner from 2002 until 2007.
Citing her experience, she further said that figures who had the integrity and commitment to empower the rights body often felt reluctant to apply as a commissioners because of political interests, as often shown by the House of Representatives during screening processes.
Like members of other government-related bodies, Komnas HAM commissioner candidates must undergo a fit-and-proper test organized by the House’s legal affairs commission, which has the final say in the recruitment process.
“The selection at the House involves too much politics. That's why we have often failed to get competent commissioners. We hope the House members in the future will screen the candidates with objectivity and not politicize the process,” Zumrotin said.
Currently, Komnas HAM has 13 commissioners who were inaugurated in 2013. Internal fighting over leadership and facilities has drawn nationwide attention. Komnas HAM was again under the public spotlight earlier this year because of budget irregularities allegedly involving one of its commissioners, Dianto Bachriadi. (ebf)
