NGOs call for law on witness protection

JAKARTA: A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Monday urged the government to start deliberating the draft law on witness protection and to set up a special agency to protect witnesses.

Danang Widoyoko of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said that the witness protection law was crucial in helping to curb rampant corruption.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting between NGOs and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), he said that witnesses, particularly in high profile corruption cases, had been reluctant to give evidence in courts because of threats to their lives and that of their families.

Danang said that the presence of an agency for witness protection would help ensure the safety of witnesses.

He added that a special agency for witness protection should be set up under auspices of the National Police.

He said that the law on witness protection would also help speed up investigations into cases of gross human rights violations, and violence against women. -- JP