Wamenkumham Says There Is A Draft Presidential Decree For The Settlement Of Past Human Rights Violations

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) of the Republic of Indonesia Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said that there had been a draft presidential decree (keppres) regarding the settlement of past gross human rights violations.

"I want to emphasize that this is the responsibility of the government regarding the resolution of past gross human rights violations," said the man who is usually called Eddy when delivering a directive in a public discussion welcoming Human Rights Day 2021 entitled 'Reflection on 21 Years of the Law on Human Rights Courts', which was broadcast on YouTube Humas. Komnas HAM RI, Monday 6 December.

He said, in the draft presidential decree, there were three important points contained. Starting from revealing the truth regarding past gross human rights violations, rehabilitation of victims, and guarantees that past gross human rights violations will not be repeated in the future.

Regarding truth-telling, Eddy said that in various countries that have commissions to resolve past human rights violations, there is an element of truth-telling.

"Revealing this truth is a necessity. It must exist," said Eddy as quoted by Antara.

Next is the rehabilitation of the victim. After the truth is revealed, there must be rehabilitation for the victim. Thus, reconciliation will occur automatically.

Talking about rehabilitation, restitution, and compensation, Eddy continued, it was not entirely about cash, but could be with government programs, namely special programs aimed at victims of gross human rights violations.

"Then there must be a guarantee that there will be no more gross human rights violations (in the future)," he said.

On the same occasion, Eddy also revealed that the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD invited the ranks of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), and the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensetneg) to discuss the Draft Law on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"This is in progress towards the issuance of the presidential decree while compiling a draft law on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," said Eddy.