Komnas HAM Asks Activists To Guard The Legal Process For The Papuan Paniai Case

JSKK activists and students take part in the 728th Kamisan Action in front of the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday 19 May. (ANTARA/Revelation Putro)

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) highlighted the case of alleged human rights violations in Paniai, Papua.

The National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, hopes that human rights figures and activists in Indonesia, especially in Papua, will focus on overseeing the legal process for alleged human rights violations in Paniai.

"So that the legal process is truly fair, especially for the victim and the victim's family", Damanik said when contacted in Jakarta, Friday, May 20.

Currently, he said, the alleged perpetrator of human rights violations in Paniai was only a liaison officer. However, the alleged perpetrator was not the main culprit.

This is not by the recommendation of Komnas HAM, but Taufan hopes that Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin can fulfill the recommendation.

Then, he continued, human rights activists, students, non-governmental organizations, and various other parties can participate in monitoring and encouraging so that law enforcement against cases of alleged human rights violations in Paniai applies fairly.

According to him, if the alleged perpetrator recommended by Komnas HAM is punished, it will open the way for the settlement of other cases of gross human rights violations.

"I think other cases will follow, for example, Trisakti, Semanggi, and others", he said, as reported by Antara.

Therefore, if there is an assumption or view that only one case has been investigated, it is actually progress. The settlement of cases of alleged gross human rights violations in Indonesia, which has been going on for the last 20 years, is still stalled or stagnant.

Of the dozens of cases of alleged gross human rights violations, he said, soon Komnas HAM will submit two new reports from Aceh.

"What we have sent to the Attorney General is the case in Bener Meriah, but it has not been published, and another one is in the completion stage", he said.