'His Name Is Also A Student, I Used To Be Like That Too,' Wamenkumham Relaxed In Response To Protests From The National Alliance For Criminal Code Reform

Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate (right) Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (second right) Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly (second left)/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej responded to protests by the National Alliance for Criminal Code Reform during the "Kick Off Public Dialogue RKUHP" event as part of democracy.

"That's normal, it's part of democracy. Yes, I think it's normal," said the man who is familiarly called Eddy, in Jakarta quoted from Antara, Tuesday, August 23.

He said the protest was a form of conveying aspirations to be heard, but it did not follow the order of the agenda.

"Right, that's the sequence of events, the presentation is first, then please criticize, please give your input. I haven't heard of protests, something like that," he said.

He then replied, "But I think it's a natural thing, the name is also a student. I used to be like that too, really."

Eddy dismissed the notion that it was futile to convey aspirations because the draft RKUHP had already been submitted to the DPR for ratification.

"I have repeatedly said that the inventory list of more than six thousand problems in the Criminal Code Bill is based on the civil society coalition. It has been brought forward from 2014.

He also avoided the notion that the socialization of the RKUHP was not a form of public involvement because it was one-way. According to him, his party needs to explain first and then listen to the response from the public regarding this to be perfected.

"In the public discussion, we have to explain first that this is causing the problem, then we will receive input. When we don't have a prologue, suddenly 'What is your input?'" said Eddy.

According to Eddy, it is impossible for the government to invite all Indonesians to provide input on the kick off agenda, but he made sure to involve the local public at the next event.

Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate (right) Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (second right) Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly (second left)

"That's why this is called kick off, the beginning. Next we will go to the regions. We will involve the public," he said.

He also reiterated that protests are part of democracy, as long as they do not lead to anarchy.

"If we have followed everything, it means that in the sense that we have heard input, we have considered, some have been inputted, some have not, and so on, it means we have gone through the process and we have to decide," said Eddy.

Previously, at the "RKUHP Public Dialogue Kick Off" event held by the government today, a number of community groups who are members of the National Alliance for Criminal Code Reform protested when Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej delivered a presentation by carrying posters each reading 'Stop The Criminalization of Private Affairs', #All Can Be Affected, and 'Reject the Criminal Code Bill'.