PBHI Urges National Police Chief To Sigit Process Of Mistreatment Of 13-Year-Old Children By TNI Personnel To General Courts

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) has urged the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to ensure the examination of two TNI personnel suspected of molesting a 13-year-old child in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) through the general court.

"The National Police Chief and the NTT Police Chief are asked to ensure a transparent and accountable criminal examination in a general court," said PBHI Chairman Totok Yuliyanto in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, August 25.

In addition to the National Police Chief, PBHI also asked the TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to evaluate the Koramil Commander 1627/03 Batatua and the Kodim Commander 1627 Rote Ndao. Both actors must be ensured disabled.

Not only that, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) as well as the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection must also provide protection and recovery to victims.

"Both physical and psychological victims and ensure their safety during the examination of the perpetrators," said Totok.

PBHI also urges President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian House of Representatives to form a law-level policy on anti-torture and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).

"This includes revising the Law on Military Courts Number 31 of 1997 as part of military reform in the country," he said.

Previously, two TNI personnel, Serma MSB and Sergeant AODK, who served in the Kodim 1627 Rote Ndao area, NTT were suspected of torturing a 13-year-old child PS.

The incident is known to have started when the two TNI soldiers accused PS of stealing a cell phone. It is strongly suspected that the two TNI officers cornered the victim's hand with a lit cigarette.

In addition, the victim was also beaten with blunt objects such as bamboo, brooms, and fists, causing the victim to suffer from broken lips, bruises on the face, abrasions on the back, and deep psychological trauma.