Sriyana, Komnas HAM
December 2008: Over the last 15 years Yana, currently Head of Komnas HAM’s Executive Secretariat, has worked on a wide range of the organisation’s human rights research projects, public awareness campaigns, inquiries and investigations across the archipelago.
When Yana joined Indonesia’s newly-established National Human Rights Commission in 1993, former President Soeharto’s ‘New Order’ regime was still in place and people active in promoting human rights faced constant pressures.
“At that time it was especially difficult to work in Indonesia as a human rights defender,” recalls Yana.
“However, I wanted to join Komnas HAM because it allowed me to see first-hand the situations that people were facing in different parts of the country and also to support victims of human rights violations.
“From the start our challenge has been to use our research and investigation powers to change the laws and government policies to better promote and protect human rights, as well as to increase awareness of human rights with the public.”
Over the last 15 years Yana has worked on a broad range of Komnas HAM’s research projects, public awareness campaigns, inquiries and investigations across the archipelago.
Today he is Head of Komnas HAM’s Executive Secretariat, a role which sees him provide policy advice especially to Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Commission members on national human rights issues.
He also supports Komnas HAM’s leadership team as they engage with regional and international human rights bodies and mechanisms, such as participating in the first session of the Universal Periodic Review in April this year when Indonesia’s human rights situation was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council.
Yana has been closely involved in establishing Komnas HAM’s inquiries into gross violations of human rights – a legal function given to the organisation in 2000. Since then Komnas Ham has carried out a number of high profile inquiries into cases of crimes against humanity.
In August this year, following a number of obstacles, Komnas HAM concluded its investigation into the 1989 massacre of around 100 villagers in Talangsari Lampung by military personnel. One of these obstacles, according to Yana, was the refusal of some former military officials to participate in the inquiry’s hearings.
“Even though some military officials did not participate, we could still finalise our inquiry because we had enough evidence of the human rights abuses that occurred at Talangsari,” he said.
“However, because Komnas HAM is independent it is very important that we get information from the victim and the perpetrators. So we are looking to strengthen the legal basis for our inquiries to make them more effective.”
Unemployment, land, environment, poverty, rapidly rising food prices and mass hunger are also issues that are high on Komnas HAM’s agenda, especially following Indonesia’s recent ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“Like our investigations, research is an important function of Komnas HAM and we are currently developing a set of indicators which will help us measure people’s right to food, health and housing,” said Yana.
This innovative project, which is being conducted in partnership with the Norwegian Centre of Human Rights and the Centre of Housing Rights and Eviction, will provide a comprehensive source of data to help Komnas HAM monitor and promote the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights.
“By objectively measuring these rights, we can create an honest picture of the human rights situation in different parts of the country. We can then use this information to advance necessary changes to laws and policies and hold the government to its obligation to help fulfil these basic rights.”
According to Yana, cooperative projects like this help build the capacity of Komnas HAM – which operates with just 200 staff – to protect and promote human rights in the world’s fourth most populous country.
“The Asia Pacific Forum has also been a very important partner for us in this regard,” he adds.
“Many staff have benefitted from participating in APF training programs and by sharing information and ideas with others at the APF’s annual meeting we can find solutions to some of the challenges we face.
“Being a part of the APF opens our eyes to human rights issues at the international level and it also provides many avenues for us to build cooperation with other national human rights institutions in the region.
“So the APF is a very special to Komnas HAM and we are proud to be one of its founding members.”
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