M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia criticizes the draft law on the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia, or Polri Bill, which is being discussed at the House of Representatives Commission III.
Nurina Savitri, Campaign Manager of Amnesty International Indonesia, said that the draft law on the National Police has several articles that are considered problematic. Therefore, meaningful public participation is needed, not just a socialization forum.
"We want the DPR to postpone the ratification of the police bill or for the president to rescind the presidential letter before there is room for meaningful participation for all levels of society," Nurina said at the Amnesty International Indonesia office on Monday, July 22.
President Joko Widodo has sent a Presidential Letter to the DPR for the police bill, along with letters for other bills such as the TNI (Indonesian Military) bill, the State Ministries bill, the ASN (State Civil Apparatus) bill, and the Immigration bill.
Nurina said that the National Police Bill has a number of strange articles whose contents threaten the situation of democracy and civil liberties.
If the bill is passed, Nurina said, there are fears that no one will supervise the police because their authority is too great. The bill also poses a threat to people who express criticism or openly dissent in public spaces. "This must be an important message to the colleagues in the DPR and the government who sent the presidential letter," Nurina said.
She continues that the National Police Law has the potential to threaten civil liberties, restrict the use of cyberspace, violate a person's right to privacy, and create impunity by giving the police the highest investigative authority among other law enforcement agencies.