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Haris Azhar should be treated as justice collaborator
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Activists, lawyers and public figures display placards that read “We trust Kontras”, during a press conference at the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah’s office in Jakarta. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) said a claim made by executed drug convict Freddy Budiman and reported by Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar should be responded to positively by law enforcers.
The agency also called for Haris to be treated as a justice collaborator.
“The claim should be considered as participation by a member of society to help law enforcers disclose the drug 'mafia'. If law enforcers turn a blind eye to such claims, it would be difficult to fight drug crimes,” said LPSK head Abdul Haris Semendawai as reported by kompas.com on Saturday.
The National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) filed a report against Haris on Tuesday with the police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). The complaint was made based on a statement by Haris on social media.
The statement exposed the alleged involvement of personnel at the three institutions in Freddy's illegal business. According to the statement, Freddy said he managed to operate an international drug network with the help of top officials, but without revealing any names.
Meanwhile, LPSK deputy head Edwin Partogi Pasaribu said law enforcers needed to cooperate with people like Haris who had information and make them justice collaborators, not criminalize them.
“Such information may be difficult to obtain if law enforcement agencies only rely on information from their intelligence personnel. Haris should be protected, not criminalized,” he stressed.
Edwin voiced appreciation for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructing law enforcers to investigate the claim. “ It should be used to fight drug traffickers,” he said. (bbn)
