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Jokowi orders more public discussions on Criminal Code revision
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed his administration to open more discussions with the public over the controversial plan to revise the Criminal Code, a senior Cabinet member said.
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University students protest against the revision of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in front of the House of Representatives compound, on Sept. 23, 2019. (JP/Donny Fernando)
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resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed his administration to open more discussions with the public over the controversial plan to revise the Criminal Code, a senior minister said.
Speaking at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the President has stressed the need to accommodate public aspirations over the much-debated provisions in the draft revision.
“We are instructed [by the President] to discuss them [the provisions] again massively and properly with the public to provide them with more understanding and to ask for suggestions from them,” Mahfud said.
Last month, the Law and Human Rights Ministry submitted the latest version of the draft bill to the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs and human rights, claiming that it had watered down a set of provisions widely deemed as draconian. But critics said they had been left largely intact and, therefore, could still curb civil liberties. This includes articles that criminalize insults to a sitting president, fornication and cohabitation.
Lawmakers are currently in recess and have yet to discuss the draft bill. The Commission III previously had been planning to hear opinions from each House faction regarding the changes proposed by the government in the next sitting session starting in mid-August.
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Mahfud said that the government would take two approaches to accommodate more discussion over the 14 much-debated issues, which were at the heart of student demonstrations that forced a delay in the bill’s passing some three years ago.
