Pigai: Komnas HAM Does Not Understand Human Rights Principles

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has criticised a statement by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regarding indications of human rights violations in the implementation of the free nutritious meal (MBG) project. He said Komnas HAM’s statement on the MBG was irrelevant, because in the context of the MBG controversy, Komnas HAM should have issued a statement noting criminal violations, mismanagement, or misleading conduct in its implementation. “That is why I say Komnas HAM does not understand human rights principles,” Pigai said when met at the DPR, MPR, and DPD Complex on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. According to him, designating something as a human rights violation must follow applicable mechanisms. In the context of the MBG, he said the project is still considered to be under development. Therefore, an assessment of human rights violations in the MBG should be made when the development is declared complete, not while the project is still underway. Regarding cases of food poisoning, Pigai did not deny the incidents occurred. However, he said poisoning does not fall under the term of development, but rather constitutes an error in implementation that can be evaluated in stages. “That is in accordance with human rights principles. That is why I say many in Komnas HAM do not understand; they are called commissioners but do not come from a human rights background,” Pigai stated. On Monday, 15 June, Komnas HAM commissioner Uli Parulian Sihombing stated that indications of human rights violations had been found in the implementation of the MBG project. He outlined eight preliminary findings by Komnas HAM that revealed various fundamental problems in the flagship programme of the Prabowo Subianto administration. One issue was the overly broad number of beneficiaries; Uli said the MBG would be more effective and targeted if focused on specific groups such as communities in the 3T regions and the 3B groups who are in dire need of nutritious food. Other findings included unclear division of authority among agencies and weak coordination between the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the government. “Based on these preliminary findings, Komnas HAM found strong indications that human rights violations have occurred in the implementation of the MBG project,” Uli said.