National

Govt says intervening Singapore's judiciary impossible

Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 07/31/2009 4:36 PM
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Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Friday it was impossible for the government to press the Singaporean government over the country's coroner's inquest into the death of Indonesian student, David Hartanto Wijaya.

"This is a legal matter. There is a limit to the government's role. We cannot interfere with their judiciary as we never want foreign parties to meddle with our own judiciary," he told reporters.

The government did however offer its help to facilitate the student's family’s request to the Singaporean High Court to review Wednesday's verdict that ruled that David committed suicide, and was not murdered as his family believed.

Hassan said there was no way for the family to bring the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) because the international courts deal with high profile cases such as territorial disputes and genocides. 

After all, Hassan added, both Indonesia and Singapore have not ratified the Rome Statute and become member states of the ICC.    

"Please don't give 'angin surga' (false hope) to the family," he said.

Hartanto Wijaya, David’s father, accused the government of failing to help him seek justice in Singapore where he believed the local authorities have conspired to murder his son and cover up the case.

 

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