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Government to build more prisons
Like a queen: Bribery convict Artalyta Suryani sits inside the posh vocational room at the Pondok Bambu women’s detention center during an inspection by the presidential task force to eradicate judicial corruption
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span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">Like a queen: Bribery convict Artalyta Suryani sits inside the posh vocational room at the Pondok Bambu women’s detention center during an inspection by the presidential task force to eradicate judicial corruption. Antara/MI Ramdani
The government has planned to allocate Rp 1 trillion (US$109 million) to improve the poor condition of many prison buildings and construct new ones.
This action is said to provide no comprehensive solution to complex problems at prisons and detention centers nationwide.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, reportedly concerned over the special treatment of female
prisoners at the Pondok Bambu Prison in East Jakarta, said Tuesday he had ordered Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati to allocate funds to improve the poor condition of numerous prisons and build new ones to cope with overcrowding.
“I have asked that new prisons be immediately built. I hope the funds allocated are significant,” Yudhoyono said while opening a Cabinet meeting on leftover 2009 state budget at the Presidential
Office.
“Many prisons across Indonesia are in poor condition and many others are overcrowded,” he added.
Yudhoyono made the statement responding to the finding by the judicial corruption task force of luxury cells occupied by certain economically privileged prisoners, during an inspection at the Pondok Bambu penitentiary Sunday night.
During the inspection, the team found that Artalyta Suryani and many other female prisoners have occupied large air-conditioned cells containing luxury facilities such as saloons, karaoke rooms, TV sets, bathrooms and many other items believed to have come from their homes at the consent of prison chiefs and wardens.
These inmates argued that the prisons were in poor condition so they asked to pay prison authorities for the privilege.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that the government would soon revise the 2010 state budget.
Among the revisions, she said, about Rp 1 trillion would be allocated to improve existing prisons and build new ones.
“In terms of capacity, the prisons are in poor condition.
“Building new prisons will be part of the government’s priority program in the revised 2010 state budget,” Mulyani said.
“We will allocate Rp 1 trillion, based on a proposal made by Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar, who has formed a plan regarding the number of prisons that need building and their locations,” she added.
Previously, Patrialis said he would carry out a major reshuffle of prison chiefs and penitentiaries, as well as their officers, across the country, in response to the finding of the luxury cells.
The Justice and Human Rights Ministry questioned several prisoners, including Artalyta, regarding the presence of luxury facilities in their cells.
Prisoners admitted paying wardens to allow them to take in their luxurious facilities.
Reportedly people are questioning why Yudhoyono and the minister did not inquire into prison authorities abusing their power and crimes such narcotic transactions in prisons.
Meanwhile, Rachland Nashidik, Human Rights Watch Impartial researcher, called on the government to deploy a comprehensive solution to the complicated issues involving prisons.
“Besides repairing prison buildings and constructing new ones, the government should review and revamp prison management.
“It should also impose harsh fines against wardens and inmates violating internal rulings at the prisons,” he said.
Rachland said the Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s Office should send only big-time criminals to prisons, while lesser ones such as Mak Minah, sentenced to three months probation for stealing three cacao beans, should be sent to rehabilitation centers.
Rachland said the government should also treat prisoners humanely, because jailing was aimed at restricting prisoners’ rights, instead of prosecuting them.
