MER-C, Human Rights Commission explore potential cooperation

"We discussed various domestic and international issues of humanity," Chairman of MER-C Presidium dr.Sarbini Abdul Murad said here on Saturday evening in connection with the meeting of MER-C with the human rights commission at its headquarters on Fri

The deaths of over 500 members of polling station working committees across Indonesia have encouraged the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to explore potential cooperation on issues of humanity.

"We discussed various domestic and international issues of humanity," Chairman of MER-C Presidium dr.Sarbini Abdul Murad said here on Saturday evening in connection with the meeting of MER-C with the human rights commission at its headquarters on Friday.

During the meeting, the representatives of the two institutions highlighted several issues, including the one related to the deaths and sickness of so many polling station working committee members, Murad said.

In addition, an issue related to deradicalization program, particularly how to handle the Poso terror suspects whose names are in the police's wanted list, and the health treatment of terrorist convicts being jailed in Nusakambangan Penitentiary, he said.

In 2016, the MER-C and Komnas HAM had ever conducted a joint mission in Poso, Central Sulawesi, he said, adding that, during the meeting, the Komnas HAM's delegation was directly headed by its chairman, Ahmad Taufan Damanik.

Damanik said the human rights commission is an independent state agency, which cares for human rights issues.

Therefore, regarding the potential cooperation with MER-C, he hinted that the two parties would again hold another meeting for talks about the issues of common concerns in more detail.

Indonesia held its parliamentary and presidential elections on April 17 peacefully and smoothly during which over 80 percent of the 192 million eligible voters had exercised their franchise nationwide.

The voters have taken their decision on the legislative candidates, who will be representing them at the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representatives Council (DPD), as well as provincial and district/city legislative bodies.

Indonesians had also voted for their ideal presidential and vice presidential candidate pair at over 800 thousand polling stations across the archipelagic nation.

In spite of the fiesta of democracy being held peacefully, it has unexpectedly resulted in the deaths of  574 people comprising mostly members of the polling station working committees, election supervisors, and police officers across Indonesia.

Vice Presidential candidate number 02 Sandiaga Uno expressed his deep concern over the deaths of so many working committee members at polling stations in different parts of Indonesia, amid the peaceful convening of the recent general elections.