Pigai says Human Rights Bill proposes Komnas HAM be given investigative authority

Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai has stated that the Draft Law on Human Rights (RUU HAM) proposes strengthening the authority of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), including granting it investigative powers, and he hopes this substance will be maintained during discussions in the House of Representatives (DPR). “This is a very progressive law compared to others,” Pigai said in Jakarta on Monday. According to him, the RUU HAM, which was compiled and released around two months ago, is the result of cross-ministerial and institutional discussions involving a number of experts and human rights activists. Pigai explained that one of the main breakthroughs in the bill is the proposal to grant investigative authority to Komnas HAM, strengthening the binding status of plenary decisions, implementing an ‘amicus curiae’ mechanism, and granting the authority to issue forced summonses. Furthermore, the RUU HAM also incorporates issues of corruption, the environment, development, and elections into a human rights perspective. According to Pigai, the drafting of the bill involved 17 ministries and institutions as well as a number of legal and human rights figures and professionals, including Jimly Asshiddiqie, Makarim Wibisono, Hafid Abbas, Ifdhal Kasim, Roichatul Aswidah, Haris Azhar, Rocky Gerung, Taufan Damanik, and Komnas HAM Commissioner Amiruddin Al Rahab. Pigai said the harmonisation process for the RUU HAM is currently ongoing before it is submitted to the President for subsequent delivery to the DPR via a Presidential Letter. He expressed hope that the DPR would retain the strategic articles in the bill, particularly those relating to investigative authority and strengthening the independence of Komnas HAM. In addition, Pigai revealed that the RUU HAM also proposes that future Komnas HAM commissioners should not come from active or retired TNI and Polri personnel to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the institution’s duties.