Government Asked To Improve Prison Conditions After Tangerang Prison Fire That Killed 41 People

Tangerang prison fire (Photo: Instagram @yasonna.laoly)

JAKARTA - Amnesty International Indonesia urges the government to improve prison conditions after a fire broke out in Class I prison in Tangerang, Banten, which left 41 people dead and dozens injured.

Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said that this fire should not be considered a normal fire, but should mean that there are important things that the government needs to do.

"This is not an ordinary fire incident, but also a human rights issue. This incident further shows the urgency to address the prison problem in Indonesia, which is full of human rights violations," said Usman in a written statement quoted on Thursday, September 9.

He then explained that prisoners and inmates are often placed in overcrowded prisons that threaten their lives and health, as happened in the Class I prison in Tangerang. In fact, they should be entitled to a proper detention center or prison.

Usman also emphasized that all prisoners have the right to be treated humanely and with dignity. Thus, detention centers and prisons should provide adequate space, lighting, air, and ventilation.

Furthermore, he also said that excess capacity in detention centers and prisons is indeed a serious problem in the criminal justice system in Indonesia. So, Usman asked the government to take quick steps to fix it.

"One of the steps the government can take to deal with this problem is to change the political orientation of policies in dealing with minor crimes, including those related to the use of narcotics," he said.

In addition, the government can release prisoners who do not need to be detained. "Including prisoners of conscience and people detained on the basis of the rubber articles in the ITE Law," said Usman.

This is important because the detention of people who only express their opinions peacefully cannot be justified under any circumstances. "Moreover, in a situation where there is an overcapacity of the prison that endangers the health and even the lives of prisoners during a pandemic like today," said this member of the Expert Council of the RBA Indonesian Advocates Association.

Usman also asked the government to take responsibility and investigate the cause of the Tangerang Class I prison fire and ensure that the rights of the victims' families can be fulfilled.

Finally, he also urged the Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly and the Director General of Prisons to resign from their positions. "This is a serious problem for the human rights of many people, especially those who are victims and are currently in overcrowded prisons," he said.

As previously reported, the Tangerang Class I Prison caught fire on Wednesday, September 8, in the early hours of the morning. As a result of the fire, 41 inmates died of which two were citizens of South Africa and Portugal.

Not only that, it was recorded that eight inmates suffered serious injuries and 72 inmates suffered minor injuries. They have been taken to the clinic for treatment.

So far, the cause of the fire is still being investigated. However, it is suspected that the fire was caused by an electrical short.