Habiburokhman: Commission III Ready to Act as Guarantor for Detained Labour Activists

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission III, Habiburokhman, has stated that his commission is prepared to act as guarantors for labour activists and agrarian reform fighters facing legal proceedings, including if they are detained in cases deemed related to their struggle for rights.

“We will guarantee ourselves to act as sureties for our detained friends. If they are still in police custody, we will demand their immediate release, but if they are already in court, we cannot intervene, but we are ready to provide guarantees,” said Habiburokhman during a meeting with a mass audience of workers in the May Day 2026 action in front of the DPR RI building on Friday (1/5/2026).

“The general pattern is that it is impossible for these friends to have any intention to commit legal violations, because what they are doing is part of the struggle,” Habiburokhman added.

Habiburokhman reminded that based on the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), law enforcement can no longer be carried out without the element of intent. Additionally, the requirements for detention have become stricter.

“The problem is that yesterday there were still law enforcers who did not understand the new KUHP and KUHAP. Like the incident during the (agrarian conflict) in Aceh, we reminded them that based on the new KUHP and KUHAP, arrests and detentions should not have been carried out,” said Habiburokhman.

“In fact, there was absolutely no mens rea because those people were defending their rights and fighting for their rights,” he continued.

Furthermore, Habiburokhman stated that Commission III will inventory various similar cases in several regions, including those reported in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The DPR also plans to hold a general hearing (RDPU) with law enforcement officials, including regional police chiefs (Kapolda), if violations of these principles are found.

“If they do not implement what we have conveyed, we will summon the Kapoldas one by one in the RDPU,” said Habiburokhman.

“If there are citizens who can submit an amicus curiae, as lawmakers we have even stronger standing; we can issue statements of position to defend our friends facing judicial processes,” he concluded.