In the run-up to tomorrow's presidential election in Indonesia, the debate about human rights has been conspicuous only by its absence.
Pramono Tanthowi, an analyst with the Centre for the Study of Religion and Civilisation, said the reason lay in the background of the candidates.
'Who is going to want to answer questions on human rights? All of the candidates have avoided the topic,' he said. 'I believe there is a common understanding that if the issue were dealt with in depth, every candidate would feel the impact.'
One of the worst perpetrators of human rights abuse in Indonesia has been the military (TNI), an organisation to which all three presidential tickets have direct links.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a retired general, just like Prabowo Subianto and Wiranto, the vice-presidential running mates of Megawati Sukarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla.
Moreover, Mr Kalla was a senior member of the Suharto establishment and former president Ms Megawati has been accused of having coddled the TNI when she was in office and done little to resolve past abuses.
Throughout their campaigns, Mr Prabowo and Wiranto have dodged questions on the issue, while Dr Susilo has limited himself to stating that there have been no gross human rights abuses under his watch.
