House Commission III: New Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code Guarantee Democratic Space for Activists and Workers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chairman of House Commission III, Habiburokhman, stated that the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) guarantee democratic space for activists to labourers. According to him, the core of these new regulations is to prevent the state from punishing someone without the element of intent to commit a crime. He assessed that activists or labourers would not have the intention to commit crimes, as their actions are part of a struggle. “Its relevance to activist friends, labourers, agrarian reform fighters, generally these friends would not have the intention to violate the law,” said Habiburokhman when receiving an audience from the Labour Movement Alliance Together with the People (Gebrak) at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday. He said the new KUHAP regulates that the conditions for detaining someone are very difficult. According to him, recent legal dynamics cases are caused by law enforcers who have not fully understood those rules. For that reason, he said House Commission III will inventory problems regarding democratic space, including holding meetings or audiences. After that, he will use the results of those meetings to remind law enforcement officials. “Because in the past, the RDPU in Commission III binds everyone. We will see, the important thing is not to be late, if it’s already in trial it will be difficult,” he said. On the other hand, he stated that House Commission III can also act as a guarantor for activists or detained labourers if they have entered the trial stage. “If still at the police, we ask for immediate release, but if already in court, we can’t intervene directly, but we will guarantee ourselves,” he said.