Govt told to deal with 'heavy' human rights violations

Albert Hasibuan: (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)

The government is drafting a plan that will pave the way for the creation of a new agency to deal with “heavy” human rights violations that can provide victims with full rehabilitation and compensation, a presidential advisory council member says.

However, he said there would be hard work ahead because the government would need to collect more data on past cases in which alleged violations occurred.

"In fact, we still have to come up with a definition that can precisely outline what constitutes a ‘heavy' human rights violation," a council's law and human rights division member Albert Hasibuan said on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.

Albert said that he has already discussed the issue with the President and was optimistic that the President would put these ideas into action.

The current Human Rights National Commission (Komnas HAM) is widely perceived as lacking confidence in carrying out its duty to address allegations. (png/dic/ued)