Human Rights Ministry pushes for recovery of students burned in Lombok

The Ministry of Human Rights is pushing for the accelerated recovery of students who were victims of a burning incident at the Rosyidatusshaulatiyyah Al Ibrahimy NW Islamic Boarding School in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The effort is being carried out through coordination with relevant ministries, agencies, and the regional government to ensure the fulfilment of the victims’ rights, including recovery services and further handling according to each institution’s authority. Acting Director General of Human Rights Instruments and Strengthening at the Ministry of Human Rights, Sofia Alatas, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that her ministry immediately followed up on the case after it gained public attention. The handling is being conducted through the Directorate of Services, which manages public complaints, whether submitted directly, indirectly, or arising from cases that have come under the spotlight. “The Minister immediately asked the relevant Director General and the team to look into the case. So it is indeed with the Directorate of Services. As soon as issues emerge, the Ministry of Human Rights automatically conducts an observation, then coordinates both at the regional and central levels,” said Sofia. According to her, the ministry’s main focus is not only monitoring the case handling process but also overseeing the victims’ recovery through collaboration with ministries, agencies, and regional governments that have authority in the fields of child protection, health, and social services. “It is hoped that recovery will be carried out immediately. So we cannot just coordinate or decide on our own. We will collaborate with other ministries that have similar duties and functions,” she stated. Previously, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Central Lombok Police named two suspects in the burning of three students at the pesantren, namely a child in conflict with the law with the initials MR and the head of the boarding school with the initials AMR. The suspects were named after investigators held a case conference based on the results of the inquiry and investigation. The West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police explained that the burning incident occurred on 13 December 2025, but the legal process only began after the victims’ families reported the case to the police in early June 2026. The Ministry of Human Rights stated it will continue to monitor the development of the case handling while ensuring that recovery efforts for the victims proceed in accordance with the principles of human rights protection.