Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Human rights groups this week were assured by the government that it would strengthen the security of persons who would come forward as witnesses to a crime.

A memorandum of understanding to provide protection to witnesses as well as victims of crimes was signed on Thursday by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak) with the National Police and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

AH Semendaway, the LPSK chairman, said the agency guaranteed that witnesses, as well as victims, would be provided with the resources necessary to ensure their safety.

"This MoU is a cooperation among several institutions which aim to create a system that would ease the process of securing witnesses," Semendaway said. "This step is part of our commitment to protect the rights of not only witnesses but victims of crimes as well," he added.

Komnas HAM chairman Ifdal Kasim said that such a cooperation with the LPSK was an important step in the country's overall view on human rights. "The MoU will be very helpful for everyone, especially to the victims of violence and the various institutions who are helping these victims to cope with their situation," Ifdal said.

Zainal Abidin, who represents the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), said the MoU showed the LPSK's willingness to share its responsibilities with other groups.

"It's just not possible for the LPSK to achieve the results it wants if the agency works alone," Zainal said. "For example, they need the police to provide physical protection for witnesses and victims."

Under the agreement, Zainal added, the agency must also explain what kind of system it would carry out in protecting witnesses and strictly abide by a principle of confidentiality in crimes that involved the police.