House Commission XIII Evaluates Overcapacity in Central Papua Prisons

Timika (ANTARA) - Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) is evaluating the condition of correctional facilities (lapas) in Central Papua, which are experiencing overcrowding and require improved facilities and infrastructure to support more optimal correctional services.

Yan Permenas Mandenas, a member of Commission XIII of the DPR RI, said in Timika on Saturday that the evaluation was carried out through a working visit to the Timika Class IIB Correctional Facility in Mimika Regency and the Nabire Class IIB Correctional Facility in Nabire Regency, as part of monitoring the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP).

According to him, both facilities face overcrowding problems that affect correctional services, and therefore require the government’s attention.

“In Central Papua, I have carried out monitoring myself on several occasions, and this time with Commission XIII we are conducting an evaluation and monitoring of SOP implementation at Timika Prison and Nabire Prison. Both prisons are over capacity, and in addition, the supporting facilities and infrastructure at these prisons must be renewed so they can meet service demands,” he said.

He hopes the facilities and infrastructure needs of both prisons will receive support from the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services, so that services for inmates and the duties of correctional officers can become increasingly optimal.

Beyond evaluating the prisons, Commission XIII also highlighted immigration services, particularly the monitoring of foreign nationals residing in Central Papua to prevent violations of immigration administration.

According to Yan, such monitoring is important given that Central Papua has great natural resource potential and is one of the destinations for foreign nationals, whether for business activities or other purposes.

He said the monitoring is also directed at detecting suspected administrative violations, including the presence of illegal foreign workers and the misuse of travel documents in mining activities.

During the working visit, Commission XIII also engaged the Ministry of Human Rights (HAM) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to obtain input on various suspected human rights violations in Central Papua, as material for policy evaluation in the fields of corrections, immigration, and human rights.