Mahfud MD: The Government Has Never And Will Not Interfere With Komnas HAM

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government has never and will not interfere in any work of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

He said this institution was independent and objective even though it was in the executive branch. This also applies to other institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), the Ombudsman, and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

"All of this is in the executive clump but not under the president and is designed as an autonomous institution. Therefore, the government has never and will never interfere with Komnas HAM," Mahfud said at the virtual launch of the National Human Rights Commission's 2020 Report, Thursday, 12 August.

According to him, the government will not interfere with Komnas HAM if it has programs related to strengthening and upholding human rights. This is because this commission is independent and is expected to be more objective when carrying out its duties.

"If the government has a project or program for the enforcement or strengthening of human rights, it doesn't go to Komnas HAM. We have our own Director General of Human Rights. We want to have our own TGPF, Komnas HAM itself," Mahfud explained.

"Because Komnas HAM is independent and can be considered more objective by the community," he added.

In the future, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) hopes that Komnas HAM can work as well as possible as an independent institution in accordance with the laws and regulations. In addition, Mahfud also ensures that the recommendations produced by the commission will be followed up by the government according to the applicable procedures.

"You can't find a human rights violation and then ask the government, you can't. People go to Komnas HAM, the government can't bypass Komnas HAM," he concluded.