Minister Pigai Secures Attorney General's Approval for Investigation Unit at Komnas HAM
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai held an audience with Attorney General ST Burhanuddin regarding the revision of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. During the meeting, Pigai proposed the creation of an investigation unit within Komnas HAM.
“Today I received a visit from the Human Rights Minister. There are several matters we discussed, particularly concerning the execution of our work and plans for drafting a new law on human rights,” Burhanuddin said at the Attorney General’s Office headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday (20/2/2026).
Burhanuddin did not elaborate further on the technical details of the proposal. However, he broadly welcomed the plan to revise the Human Rights Law.
“The technical aspects can come later. The first step now is the Minister’s plan to draft a new Human Rights Law. That comes first. Under the current law, the Attorney General’s Office handles human rights investigations. It’s possible we could work together. Perhaps the ministry would have a unit, and we would have ours, so we could cooperate,” Burhanuddin explained.
“But the main thing is that we need to welcome what the Minister has conveyed — that he will form a new law on human rights. We must welcome that first,” he added.
At the same occasion, Pigai reiterated that he had secured approval from the Attorney General regarding the proposed investigation unit at Komnas HAM. At present, Komnas HAM holds only inquiry (pro justisia) authority over alleged serious human rights violations, but not investigation powers.
“The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office have conveyed that Komnas HAM may establish an investigation unit, specifically for serious human rights violations,” Pigai said.
The former Komnas HAM commissioner noted that few countries have incorporated investigation units within their human rights bodies. He therefore expressed hope that this proposal would represent a step forward for Indonesia.
“This is an example of Indonesia being far more advanced than other countries. Because how could it be — a human rights institution, Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission, with an investigation unit,” Pigai said.
“Indeed, not many countries in the world have an investigation unit. India has one, and several other countries do as well. Indonesia will now establish one through legislation,” he continued.
Pigai also did not yet explain the technical workings of the proposed investigation unit in detail. He stated that the specifics would be outlined once the revision of the Human Rights Law was completed.
“So we are holding off on the technical details for now — what it will look like will be addressed in the subsequent revised law. Because a consequence of amending the Human Rights Law is that we must also amend Law No. 26 of 2000 on Serious Human Rights Courts,” Pigai said.
“So on behalf of myself as Human Rights Minister, and representing all our friends in the civil society community and the people of Indonesia, I convey my gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Attorney General,” he added.