Komnas HAM Equips Indonesian Army Soldiers On Human Rights Insights, Humanist Social Approach Must Be Prioritized

Office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) provides briefing on human rights insights to the Army (AD) as an effort to socialize soldiers while on duty in the field.

"Social and humane approaches need to be taken by Indonesian Army soldiers to handle certain situations when they are on duty in the field," said Komnas HAM chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 24.

The briefing related to human rights was given by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission during an event held by the Commander of the Army Units at the TNI Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java.

The human rights briefing entitled Indonesia and Human Rights was delivered by Ahmad Taufan to the commanders of the Korem (Danrem), Kodim commanders (Dandim), battalion commanders (Danyon), brigade commanders (Danbrig), commanders of educational institutions (Danlemdik), as well as prospective unit commanders (Dan. dansat) within the Indonesian Army.

These efforts are to encourage the duties of the TNI to safeguard the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), support law enforcement, and maintain human dignity based on human rights.

On that occasion, Taufan also explained the limits of prohibited actions for soldiers related to human rights. Some of these prohibitions, such as killing, except for armed enemies in the context of combat.

Other prohibitions include torture to obtain information, rape for violating the military code of honor, and disappearing or kidnapping other people.

"This includes destroying and taking other people's property as well as carrying out punishments outside the court's decision or in other words taking the law into their own hands," he said.

The TNI AD rally was led by the Army Chief of Staff, Dudung Abdurachman, and was attended by Danpusenif Kodilatad, Danpusterad, as well as 1,000 participants from various units.