Rejects DPR's Proposal To Discuss RKUHP With The Government Behind Closed Doors, YLBHI: This Is Not Allowed

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Muhammad Isnur asked the Government and the DPR to conduct an open discussion of the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP).

"The government and the DPR as the drafting team for the RKUHP should open a thorough discussion and ensure meaningful participation from the community," Isnur said in a written statement, Wednesday, July 6.

The statement is related to the DPR's response to the meeting with the Government, specifically the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, in a working meeting at 11.00 WIB regarding the Submission of an explanation of 14 crucial points from the Government regarding the carry over bill.

Isnur said the DPR's response in this meeting was to propose a discussion on changes to the RKUHP by the Government in an internal meeting.

This closed internal meeting will agree on whether the RKUHP will be brought to level 2 or not for ratification, it can also determine whether the discussion will be reopened.

“This means that whether or not there is a further substantial discussion of the RKUHP will be suspended based on an internal and closed meeting. This cannot be justified," Isnur said.

According to him, even if the DPR chose not to discuss the RKUHP, the choice should have been made through an open meeting. Through an open meeting, the DPR can explain what is the reason for this being done.

“The most basic thing is that the discussion on changes to the substance of the bill must be discussed openly. The entire draft law must be accessible to the public within a sufficient period of time before it is ratified,” Isnur said.

Previously, at the Commission III working meeting of the DPR with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, there was a debate between DPR members regarding the use of the phrase "discussing and finalizing" the RKUHP in the meeting approval notes.

Member of Commission III of the DPR RI from the Democratic Party faction, Benny K. Harman asked that the word "discuss" be included in the notes, while Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI Adies Kadir and member of Commission III of the DPR RI Arsul Sani said that it was enough to just include the word "finish" on the page. in the meeting approval notes.

“Let it 'finish'. Does the word finish contain the word discussion? That's our internal problem (DPR). We will discuss it later in an internal meeting," said Arsul Sani at a work meeting.

According to Arsul, it is impossible not to carry out discussions even though the word "discuss" is not listed in the meeting approval notes.

Moreover, the Government has brought a number of changes in the RKUHP which will definitely be discussed by the DPR.

"There are two articles that have been abolished by the government. We will definitely discuss this. It is impossible for us to say that the DPR agrees," he said.

Furthermore, Arsul emphasized that the word "discuss" does not need to be included because his party will definitely discuss the RKUHP internally to finalize the draft law.