President Jokowi: Gov’t Committed to Solving Gross Human Rights Violations

President Jokowi delivers his remarks at the 2021 World Human Rights Day commemoration at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (12/10). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

The Indonesian Government is committed to upholding human rights as well as settling and solving gross human rights violations, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“The Government through the Attorney General has already taken steps to conduct general investigations on cases of gross human rights violations. One of them, mentioned previously by Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), is the Paniai case in Papua, in 2014,” President Jokowi said in his remarks at the 2021 World Human Rights Day commemoration at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (12/10).

The Government will prioritize the principles of justice for the victims and those suspected to be perpetrators of gross human rights violations, he said. This commitment is stated in Law Number 26 of 2000 on  Human Rights Court.

The President stated that in the development of industrial revolution 4.0, human rights issues are also apparent including public anxiety and concern about criminal sanctions in the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (UU ITE). He has also ordered his administration to prioritize educative and persuasive steps in handling the cases.

“However, I also remind you that freedom of expression must be carried out responsibly for the interests of the wider community,” the President said.

Furthermore, the President said that the protection of personal data is also a serious concern for the Government and is an inseparable part of human rights. The President has also ordered his administration to complete the discussion of regulations regarding this matter.

“I have ordered Minister of Communication and Informatics as well as related ministries and institutions to immediately complete the discussion on the Personal Data Protection Bill with the House of Representatives so that the protection of people’s human rights and business certainty in the digital sector can be guaranteed,” he said.

President Jokowi also mentioned that the Government should continue to act according to the development of science and technology so that no party is unfairly harmed. “We must always innovate in an effort to protect human rights of the Indonesian citizens, especially marginalized groups. We must build an advanced Indonesia, and at the same time ensure social justice for all Indonesian people,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (FI/MMB)