LPSK: The State Must Be Responsible For The Tragedy Of The Tangerang Prison Fire That Killed 44 Inmates

Tangerang Prison/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) responded to a fire that occurred at the Class I prison in Tangerang, Banten, which killed 44 inmates. Deputy Chairperson of LPSK Maneger Nasution said the state must take responsibility for this incident.

"The state or the government must be held accountable for the fire incident that occurred in the Tangerang prison. Moreover, the incident killed 44 people," said Maneger in a written statement, Thursday, September 9.

The manager said the government must ensure that all rights of victims and their families are fulfilled. In addition, the inmates in the prison who suffered injuries must also be treated properly.

In addition, the government must also investigate the cause of the fire that occurred on Wednesday, September 8 in the early hours of yesterday. Moreover, this fire is not an ordinary occurrence but also a human rights issue.

"This incident again shows the real face of prisons in Indonesia, which are full of various human rights violations that must be addressed immediately," said Maneger.

According to him, this fire also shows the reality where detainees and inmates are often placed in detention houses and crowded prisons that are not friendly to health. "Even threaten the safety of their lives," he said.

Maneger asked the state to be present to fulfill the right of every detainee and inmates to be treated humanely and with dignity. "So that detention centers and prisons must provide adequate spatial planning, lighting, air, and ventilation," he said.

Finally, he also asked the state to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. Including, the excessive number of residents which is the root of serious problems in the criminal justice system in Indonesia.

This is done by taking policies that change the way crimes are handled under the category of minor, including drug users.

"They can be released through a rehabilitation program. Including those who are detained for expressing their opinions peacefully or on the basis of the rubber article in the ITE Law, especially in a situation where the prison's overcapacity endangers the health and even the lives of prisoners and inmates, especially during the current pandemic, " 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, 44 inmates died due to the incident.

They could not save themselves because they were trapped in a holding cell. Because, at that time their detention cell was locked.

The cause of the prison fire is still being investigated. However, it is suspected that the cause was an electric short circuit.