NGOs call for law on witness protection

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