Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s move to postpone the enactment of the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) will not resolve the problem.
Kontras Coordinator Yati Andriyani says that the president’s request for a postponement is in fact an admission on the part of the government that the RKUHP is ridden with problems.
“The request for a postponement in the deliberation of the RKUHP by the president means an admission on the part of the government that the RKUHP is very problematic. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the problem is resolved”, said Andriyani in a press release on Friday September 20.
Andriyani said that the postponement must be followed up by the removal of the problematic articles in the RKUHP.
Kontras is urging the executive and the legislative to delete the articles which have the potential to violate human rights, democratic principles, violate civil freedoms, press freedom, freedom of religion and belief and those that support impunity.
Furthermore, Andriyani warned all parties to continue to monitor the RKUHP saying that she does not want Widodo’s postponement to become a way to placate the public so they stop criticising, demonstrating and resisting the law.
“The government’s sincerity must be tested by making sure that the president can ensure that all of the parties which support him in parliament take the same position and that the government ensures that the problematic articles are no longer included”, she said.
On the other hand, Andriyani asserted that there should be no praise for Widodo or the House of Representatives (DPR) for delaying the enactment of the RKUHP. This is because the postponement happened because Widodo and the DPR came under pressure.
“There should be no praise for the government’s request or the DPR in postponing the RKHUP, it was only because they came under pressure. In substantial terms we cannot yet be sure if they are clear or not”, said Andriyani.
Furthermore, Andriyani is challenging the government and the DPR to abolish all of the problematic articles as evidence of their seriousness. “Don’t let it become a tool of moderation again. But our focus must still be on delegitimising the ranks of the oligarchy”, she said.
Earlier today Widodo decided to postpone the deliberation and ratification of the RKUHP by the DPR. Widodo said he hoped that the DPR will act as partner with the government in the legislative process and will take a similar position.
“I have ordered the Menkumham [Minister of Justice and Human Rights] to convey my stance to the DPR RI, namely that the deliberation of the RUU KUHP be postponed. And that it not be passed into law during the current period of the DPR”, said Widodo during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Bogor. (jps/wis)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “KontraS: Tak Ada Puja Puji untuk Jokowi Tunda RKUHP”.]
