Attorney General: Law Should Not Be A Tool For Poor People, Use Conscience

Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin reminded his staff to take professional action against people who do not comply with PPKM. The Attorney General reminded them to expect the law to be used as a tool for 'impoverishing' the underprivileged.

"I do not expect that in this difficult situation, the law will become a tool for "impoverishment" for the poor," said the Attorney General, quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 22.

Burhanuddin explained, currently the Indonesian people are struggling against the COVID-19 outbreak which is threatening and terrorizing all citizens. Of course, the prosecutor's office has a big responsibility to play an active role in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.

"The Prosecutor's Office must have the concern and initiative to be involved in every activity carried out together with the local government, the TNI and the police," he continued.

Burhanuddin asked all levels of the prosecutor's office to mobilize all available resources and authorities to secure and maintain the availability and stability of prices for drugs, medical devices, and medical oxygen which are currently very much needed by the people, and play an active role in accelerating the national vaccination program.

"I emphasize that the Attorney General's Office will continue to ensure that the area under its jurisdiction does not run out of drugs and oxygen that the community needs," said Burhanuddin.

In addition, he said, in the context of accelerating the control of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government is currently implementing the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), and for that, the attorney general's office is asked to support and ensure the success of its implementation.

"Use your conscience when you are forced to take action against people who do not want to comply with the PPKM provisions. Apply strict but measurable sanctions and make sure the sanctions you impose are able to provide a deterrent effect. Apply proportional demands based on conscience," he said.

According to Burhanuddin, strict laws do not mean imposing severe punishments. However, a firm law is a measurable and proportional law.

"A firm law that is able to provide benefits for all, and can change the behavior of violators to not commit criminal acts again," continued the Attorney General.