Human Rights Minister Emphasises Limits on Legal Interventions in Gorontalo
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai emphasised the importance of safeguarding the independence of law enforcement during a human rights capacity-building activity at Gorontalo State University on Wednesday, as part of efforts to strengthen public understanding of the human rights system.
In direct dialogue with students and pupils, Pigai stressed that the government must not intervene in ongoing legal processes.
“We cannot intervene; the government must not intervene; do not demand that the government intervenes in the law,” Pigai stated in his remarks in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that Indonesia’s state system adheres to the principle of separation of powers as per the trias politica concept, so each institution has a role that must be carried out independently.
“We in Indonesia follow Montesquieu’s law: executive, legislative, and judiciary; let them operate independently, without encroaching on each other’s domains. Law enforcers operate professionally, the legislative and executive operate professionally, and the National Human Rights Commission carries out oversight. In this way, law enforcement continues according to the applicable mechanisms,” he said.
Pigai added that from a human rights perspective, the state acts as a duty bearer obligated to respect, protect, and fulfil citizens’ rights. Meanwhile, society as rights holders has the legitimacy to demand the fulfilment of rights constitutionally.
This activity also forms part of the government’s efforts to build two-way communication with society through a dialogical approach, so that understanding of human rights is not merely theoretical but contextual with social realities.
Rector of Gorontalo State University Eduart Wolok stated that strengthening human rights capacity is important for unifying perspectives amid Indonesia’s diversity.
Meanwhile, Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail emphasised the importance of integrating human rights values into every local government policy to prevent potential violations.
“We must start from a shared understanding; as explained by the Human Rights Minister earlier, from the government’s side, all regulations must be based on human rights, so that there are no human rights violations in the future,” he said.
He added that alignment of perspectives between the government and society is key to ensuring that handling of alleged human rights violations proceeds according to the applicable legal corridors.
The Ministry of Human Rights, through this activity, targets increasing awareness among the younger generation regarding the roles and limits of authority of each party in the human rights system, while also promoting the strengthening of a culture of respect for human rights in Indonesia.