E/CN.4/2000/4/Add.2 page 5 reforms are being discussed and/or implemented. Measures which are designed to improve the situation of human rights figure prominently among the reforms which are under way. The most important are listed hereunder. 12. The long-standing ban on independent political parties has been lifted (there are now 139 registered political parties compared with three before the change), as has the ban on independent trade unions (there are now 12 compared with one before the change). Close to 200 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including 52 from East Timor, have benefited from an amnesty, had charges against them dropped or have otherwise been released. 13. On 25 June 1998, the new Government announced the adoption of the “National Plan of Action on Human Rights - 1998-2003”. To implement the programme of activities of the Plan, the National Committee on Human Rights, composed of government officials and community representatives, was established by Presidential Decree No. 129 of 15 August 1998. The National Plan of Action consists of four main pillars: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) The ratification of international human rights instruments; The dissemination of information and education on human rights; The implementation of priority human rights issues, especially the protection of non-derogable rights; The implementation of international human rights instruments already ratified. 14. As part of the first pillar, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment was ratified on 28 September 1998 (Act No. 5/1998). The Government has completed the draft law for the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which is to be presented to Parliament shortly. In 1999, the Government will also prepare for the ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, whereas the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is under examination. 15. In August 1998, the Government of Indonesia and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in the field of human rights, based upon the needs and priorities of the Government. 16. The Government has revoked the status of “special military operation zones” (Daerah Operasi Militer (DOM)) for the provinces of Aceh (August 1998), Irian Jaya (October 1998) and East Timor, this status being replaced by another concept (see para. 44 below). As a result, some 1,300 combat troops have been removed from these areas and, according to the Government, counter-insurgency military operations have been suspended. There have been further repeated statements by the Government that the Anti-Subversion Law of 1963, under which many prisoners (including the oldest ones) and prisoners of conscience had been convicted, would be abrogated. Meanwhile, its application has been suspended.