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Legal reform should uphold human rights, end impunity: Imparsial
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In the darkness – A visitor wears a Munir mask during a public information openness case hearing on the murder of the human rights defender 12 years ago at the Central Information Commission (KIP) in Jakarta on Oct.10. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he national legal reform package, which the government will soon introduce to revitalize Indonesia's justice system, should improve the country's commitment to upholding human rights and eradicating impunity, a rights watchdog has said.
Imparsial director Al-Araf said the legal reform should strengthen the government's efforts to resolve past rights abuse cases and as its first step, it should mandate the establishment of an ad hoc human rights tribunal to handle missing person cases, as recommended by the House of Representatives in 2009
He further said the government should also prove its commitment to settling the murder of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib that has remained in the dark for 12 years. The Central Information Commission (KPI) has previously ordered the State Secretariat to make public all investigative reports made by the fact-finding team on the case.
"The legal reform should also push for a moratorium and revocation of the death penalty from Indonesia’s justice system because the right to life is one of our inalienable Constitutional rights," Al-Araf told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Aside from strengthening its commitment to human rights, the government should also order the amendment of Law No. 31/1997 on military tribunals to allow military personnel committing civil crimes to face trials in civilian courts to ensure transparency and accountability in their legal process, he further said.
Along with National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian's promises about internal reforms, Al-Araf said the legal package should enhance the professionalism of the police by inserting policies that would improve the police’s personnel recruitment and education system as well as internal oversight mechanisms. (ebf)
