Human Right Heroes

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 12/10/2010 10:25 AM | Editorial

Indonesia has recognized another human rights hero. It was announced on Wednesday that the prestigious Yap Thiam Hien award would be presented to Asmara Nababan, one of the first commissioners of the country’s human rights body.

He is no longer among us to accept the award. If he was he’d be peering at us through his glasses, and, with his usual humility, urging people to get serious and look for another nominee. Asmara, who last led the Demos research institute and the human rights NGO Kontras, succumbed to lung cancer on Oct. 28.
The most important thing for such a hero is how the legacy of his work and enthusiasm can spread across the country, if not the world.

On human rights, we look forward to the day when we no longer need such heroes. We would prefer learning from the best manager any day.