Kontras warns SBY against Gerindra coalition

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has urged president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to drop any plan to form a political coalition with the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), saying the move would represent a major setback for human rights in the country.

Responding to the Democratic Party’s recent move to invite Gerindra into its ailing coalition, Kontras deputy coordinator Indria Fernida said the President’s party ideally should not team up with political parties sheltering figures allegedly involved in human rights violations.

"We will soon meet the Democratic Party officials to share our view about their [coalition] plan. We also want them to remember their commitment made prior to the 2009 presidential election to not form any political coalition with parties like Gerindra or Hanura [The People’s Conscience Party]," Indria told The Jakarta Post.

Gerindra patron Maj. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto and Hanura chairman Gen. (ret) Wiranto have been linked to the abduction of human rights activists during the 1998 political turmoil, the East Timor conflict and the Semanggi student shootings.