Government Focuses On Returning Indonesian Prisoners To Indonesia

Deputy For Immipas Kemenko Kumham Imipas I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram ANTARA/HO-Kemenko Kumham Imipas

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Kumham Imipas) emphasized that the Government will focus on repatriating Indonesian citizens (WNI) prisoners to their homeland.

Deputy for Immipas of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights, Imipas I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, revealed that the number of Indonesian prisoners abroad who have been sentenced to death and for life is quite significant.

"Therefore, we should not only make transfers, but we are also trying to ask for the transfer of prisoners," said Nyoman as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 19.

However, he said that basic legal preparation and various clear criteria were needed to transfer prisoners.

The ministry invites together to formulate how steps to repatriate Indonesian citizens who are convicted to Indonesia.

Nyoman explained that the transfer of Indonesian citizens is a priority, namely those who have a life sentence. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to that each country has different laws.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dicky Yunus conveyed the same thing that the importance of drafting clear criteria for Indonesian citizens to be repatriated and the need to formulate a legal basis for transferring prisoners from abroad.

The meeting was attended directly by the Deputy for Immipas of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Human Rights, Kumham Imipas I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, and the Deputy for Human Rights at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights, Kumham Imupas Ibnu Chuldun.

Previously, Minister Imipas Agus Andrianto said the Indonesian government had repatriated seven foreign prisoners (WNA) through three practical agreements (practitical agreement) with a number of countries throughout 2024.

He detailed that the practical agreement was carried out by the Indonesian government with the governments of Australian, Philippine and French countries.

"In the context of repatriating five Australian prisoners, one prisoner from the Philippines, and one prisoner from France," Agus said during a working meeting with Commission XIII at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday.

He said the efforts to transfer prisoners were carried out based on humanitarian considerations and to maintain good relations with friendly countries.