Public Asked To Criticize Presidential Decree On Jokowi's Serious Non-judicial Human Rights Violations, Mahfud MD: Come On, Criticize, That's Good

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Human Rights (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD said the government is open to criticism regarding the Presidential Decree (Keppres) regarding the Establishment of a Non-Judicial Settlement Team for Past Serious Human Rights Violations which was recently signed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)

Mahfud believes that the public has the right to criticize any government policies. After all, he said, the government must be given input through criticism of policies in resolving past gross human rights violations.

"There are criticisms because the Presidential Decree for the Non-judicial Settlement of Past Human Rights Violations was made. Come on, criticize, it's good. We must accept criticism as a beautiful song, as beautiful as the keroncong campursari song. judicial continues," wrote Mahfud on his Twitter account, @mohmahfudmd, Thursday, August 18.

Although the Presidential Decree is considered to have spawned a number of polemics that have the potential to create impunity, Mahfud emphasized that the settlement of past human rights violations will continue to run continuously, both judicially and non-judicially.

"According to the legislation, the settlement of past human rights cases is pursued through two parallel paths, namely judicial and non-judicial. The judicial route back and forth from Komnas HAM, the Attorney General's Office continues to the DPR," said Mahfud.

"So while handling judicial settlements, the government also makes non-judicial ones," he continued.

Excerpts from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s state speech at the 2022 MPR Annual Session regarding the resolution of past gross human rights violations have attracted the attention of human rights activities as well as survivors and their families.

In his speech, Jokowi admitted that he would resolve past gross human rights violations by signing a Presidential Decree and drafting a law (RUU) for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR).

"The resolution of past gross human rights violations also continues to be a serious concern for the government. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill is currently under discussion," Jokowi said at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 16.