Prohibition Of Going Home, YLKI Asks The Government To Prepare A Legal Basis And Give Refunds In The Form Of Money

The atmosphere of people leaving for homecoming at Pasar Senen Station. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) requested that the government, in this case the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), prepare a strong legal basis regarding the prohibition of going home before Eid Al-Fitr or Eid and provide a refund or refund in the form of money.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has officially banned his people from going home. The policy was issued on April 21. Following up on the government's decision, the Ministry of Transportation has begun to prepare regulations regarding transportation restrictions.

YLKI Daily Executive Chairman Sudaryatmo said that the regulations on transportation restrictions that will be issued by the government later must contain clear and strong legal reasons. Because, in essence, mobilization is a human right that has been confirmed in law (UU).

"YLKI asks the Ministry of Transportation to make the rules, to ensure that the legal justification can be tested. So that later the ban (going home) has a legal basis," he said, in a virtual discussion with the theme 'Overcoming Lebaran Homecoming During Pandemic from Various Perspectives', Wednesday, April 22.

Sudaryatmo explained that the rules guaranteeing the people's right to mobilize are not absolute, but relative. Therefore, restrictions on mobilization can be justified if the link is to general public health.

As is known, the corona virus or COVID-19 in Indonesia is increasingly spreading. The number of virus positive patients continues to grow. Transmission of this virus occurs very quickly through physical contact. Therefore, to stop its spread, the government has no choice, the mobilization of the people must be stopped. Because, with mobilization there will be physical contact.

According to Sudaryatmo, even though the government's reason for issuing a ban on going home is in order to break the chain of spreading the virus, it must be based on mature legal arguments.

"In the context of further regulation, we ask that legal arguments be prepared carefully. Although there are other laws that give rights, this mobility can be reduced," he said.

Certainty of Refunds in the Form of Money

Sudaryatmo said that the government's ban on going home must be accompanied by regulations regarding the return ticket system. The government must guarantee the return of funds from transportation service providers to people who canceled their homecoming this year.

According to Sudaryatmo, in order for the 100 percent refund guarantee to be fulfilled, there needs to be a regulation on transportation restrictions that is being formulated by the Ministry of Transportation.

"YLKI asked the government, in making this regulation on the ban on going home, it could be accommodated in the form of a cancellation mechanism, not to cut (ticket purchase funds)," he said.

As is known, the ban on going home, which was issued by the government in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, has made people who have ordered transportation tickets going home to apply for a refund. However, it turns out that not all providers of transportation modes provide refunds in the form of money.

"We ask that in the Ministry of Transportation's regulation the return must be in the form of money, not in the form of vouchers or rescheduling. Because that is not what the consumer wants, that's a government regulation," he explained.

Because of that Sudaryatmo emphasized that people who cancel their homecoming transportation tickets have the right to get a 100 percent refund.