Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – As allegations are leveled at police officers for their involvement in human rights violations, the public increasingly doubts law enforcers will launch their own thorough internal investigations.
Given this situation, some believe the government needs to give the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) the authority to launch investigation into human rights violations and bring perpetrators to court.
Law expert Jimly Asshiddiqie called on the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to revise the 1999 Human Rights Law and give Komnas HAM investigative authority.
"The increasing human rights abuses in the past few years have made us worried. Because many abuses involved security apparatus, it's urgent to give Komnas HAM authority to launch investigation," Jimly said at his meeting with House Speaker Marzuki Alie on Monday.
Jimly met the House speaker as a part of his new role as chairman of a team to select new members for Komnas HAM. He said Komnas HAM has been absent in media headlines apparently because the rights body was seen as toothless.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the General Elections Commission (KPU) attract media attention due to the high-profile issues there, he said. However, in comparison, Komnas HAM was perceived to be toothless because many gross human rights abuses have been left unresolved, Jimly added.
"I doubt [Komnas HAM] will investigate recent human rights cases in Mesuji, Lampung and in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara because the two fatal incidents allegedly involved police personnel," he said.
The Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies in 1998/1999, which were once declared gross human rights violations, have been left unresolved.
All findings in the tragedies have been handed over to the police and the Attorney General's Office as an entry point to carry out criminal investigations but so far no military and police officials were held responsible for the tragedies.
The existing law allows the Komnas HAM to investigate any human rights violations but its findings are handed over to law enforcers to bring perpetrators to justice.
Marzuki appreciated Jimly's idea and vowed to discuss it with relevant House commissions to insert it in the legislative program this year.