PeduliProtects Accused Of Violating Human Rights, Mahfud MD: Handling COVID-19 In Indonesia Is Better Than America

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is one of the best in Asia. In fact, he claims that the handling of the spread of the virus in the country is better than America.

This was conveyed by Mahfud in response to allegations of human rights violations in the implementation of the PeduliLindung application issued by the United States Department of Foreign Affairs.

"Indonesia is one of the best countries in Asia in handling COVID-19. That's one. In the world, Indonesia is good, far better than America in dealing with COVID," said Mahfud in a video description uploaded on the Coordinating Ministry's YouTube. Polhukam RI, Saturday, April 16.

He did not deny, there could be people who are disturbed because they cannot enter public facilities because they are exposed to COVID-19 and the PeduliLindung application is monitored. However, this cannot be considered a violation of human rights.

According to Mahfud, this kind of restriction must be implemented. Thus, the spread of the virus in the community can be prevented from spreading.

"That someone feels disturbed if they want to enter the mall must be scanned, it is known that their movements are further restricted is a consequence," he said.

Mahfud said the report issued by the US Department of Foreign Affairs was a matter of course. Moreover, this report is based on data held by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

However, Mahfud mentioned that America also has a long record of human rights violations in its own country based on the Special Procedures Mandate Holders (SPMH). He said, during 2018-2021, there were at least 76 human rights violations committed by the country of Uncle Sam.

"So about that, we just have to look at each other. What's important is that we all work according to the lines of each country to save its people," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

As previously reported, the US Department of Foreign Affairs highlighted a number of problems that occurred in Indonesia. This is stated in the report on human rights practices in Indonesia.

Quoted from the website of the United States Embassy in Indonesia, one of the human rights issues that has been in the spotlight is the PeduliLindung application which was launched by the Government since March 2020.

In the report, human rights violations from the PeduliLindung application fall into the category of 'Arbitrariness or Legal Crimes related to Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence'. This is known to the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs on reports from a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

"A number of NGOs are concerned that information is being collected through an application and the data is stored and used by the government," the English-language report said.