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Insight: UN human rights chief visit moment of truth for Indonesia
Since he took office in September 2014, United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has been outspoken on a range of issues, including the death penalty, “blasphemy,” the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights and intersex (LGBTI) issues, discriminatory laws in Aceh and impunity in Indonesia.
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Never forget: Maria Catarina Sumarsih, whose son was killed during the 1998 protests, holds a black umbrella during the commemoration for the 10th anniversary of the Kamisan rally. The Kamisan rally is a silent protest held every Thursday since it was launched by rights activists in 2007. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he visit of United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is a positive gesture, but it is also a moment of truth, an opportunity for Indonesia to take a hard look at its level of compliance with its international human rights obligations amid the increasing level of intolerance toward those who are different, disempowered and marginalized in Indonesia.
The UN human rights boss, who is visiting at the invitation of the Indonesian government, is scheduled to meet, among others, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Attorney General M. Prasetyo and the National Commission on Human Rights between Feb. 4 and 7.
Since he took office in September 2014, Hussein has been outspoken on a range of issues, including the death penalty, “blasphemy,” the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights and intersex (LGBTI) issues, discriminatory laws in Aceh and impunity in Indonesia. He issued a strong statement on the death penalty on July 26, 2016, when Indonesia was about to execute 14 people.
Human rights activists have high hopes for the visit and expect Hussein to continue to be frank on Indonesia’s human rights record, make strong statements and push for Indonesia to take concrete steps to ensure compliance with its international human rights obligations, especially when it comes to protecting minority groups and addressing human rights violations.
The trip is a good opportunity for Hussein to speak out against injustice in Indonesia as his visit comes at a time when minority groups are crying out for help. They have been continuously persecuted — and prosecuted — by both law enforcement officers and mobs in the name of morality.
It was “morality” that recently justified police action in North Aceh to raid beauty salons and arrest 12 transgender women employees and force them to act like men. In what was clearly punishment through public shaming, the police cut their hair and forced the transgender women to wear men’s clothing. Under international law, such conduct constitutes cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment.
Despite the North Aceh Police chief undergoing internal investigation for an alleged breach of ethics, local authorities in the province, where sharia is enforced, continue the crackdown on transgender people as part of their “re-education” program. This is a serious violation of the rights to equality, privacy and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment, which we can trust Hussein to address during his visit.
