Pigai Says Komnas HAM Will Operate Like KPK Under Revised Human Rights Law
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has stated that the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) will operate in a manner similar to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), following plans to expand its authority under a revision of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights.
"Komnas HAM will function like the KPK — the KPK has investigators, the Police have investigators, the Attorney General's Office has investigators. Soon Komnas HAM will also have investigators, including civil servant investigators," Pigai said at a press conference at the Ministry of Human Rights building in Jakarta on Friday.
Investigative authority is one of the key enhancements to Komnas HAM's powers being drafted by the government as part of the revised Human Rights Law. Pigai explained that Komnas HAM would have civil servant investigators supervised by the Attorney General's Office.
"They will also be civil servants, but the supervising body will be the Attorney General's Office. The education, technical skills, competencies, knowledge, understanding, assessments, and credit points will all be handled by the Attorney General's Office, as they are the supervisory institution," he said.
Pigai described the expanded authority as a legacy for the Indonesian nation. "An institution that has long been considered weak — we are giving it greater strength and authority to enforce human rights and administer human rights justice," he said.
He stated that the revision of the Human Rights Law is targeted for completion this year. Subsequently, in 2027, the Ministry of Human Rights plans to propose a revision of Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Courts.
"This year is about granting authority to Komnas HAM. After that, the technical aspects of the judicial process — what assignments look like, how implementation works — will be addressed in the revision of the Human Rights Court Law, as this concerns the courts," he explained.
Pigai had an audience with Attorney General ST Burhanuddin at the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta on Friday. Following the meeting, Pigai told the press that the Attorney General supports the concept of establishing a Komnas HAM investigation unit.
"I was truly surprised because, as a human rights activist and member of civil society, when I came to the Attorney General's Office, they conveyed that what we are proposing — namely the revision of the Human Rights Law — the Attorney General and the Attorney General's Office stated that Komnas HAM may establish an investigation unit, specifically for gross human rights violations," Pigai said.
According to him, the existence of this unit would represent progress for Indonesia in becoming a dignified and humanely civilised nation. However, the technical implementation of the unit will be discussed further.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General said that the question of who would serve as investigators in the unit would be addressed in further technical discussions.
"There are now civilian investigators as well as police investigators. Under the current law, the Attorney General's Office handles human rights investigations. It is possible that we could work together. Perhaps the ministry would have some, we would have some, and we could collaborate. Those are technical matters for later," he said.
"Komnas HAM will function like the KPK — the KPK has investigators, the Police have investigators, the Attorney General's Office has investigators. Soon Komnas HAM will also have investigators, including civil servant investigators," Pigai said at a press conference at the Ministry of Human Rights building in Jakarta on Friday.
Investigative authority is one of the key enhancements to Komnas HAM's powers being drafted by the government as part of the revised Human Rights Law. Pigai explained that Komnas HAM would have civil servant investigators supervised by the Attorney General's Office.
"They will also be civil servants, but the supervising body will be the Attorney General's Office. The education, technical skills, competencies, knowledge, understanding, assessments, and credit points will all be handled by the Attorney General's Office, as they are the supervisory institution," he said.
Pigai described the expanded authority as a legacy for the Indonesian nation. "An institution that has long been considered weak — we are giving it greater strength and authority to enforce human rights and administer human rights justice," he said.
He stated that the revision of the Human Rights Law is targeted for completion this year. Subsequently, in 2027, the Ministry of Human Rights plans to propose a revision of Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Courts.
"This year is about granting authority to Komnas HAM. After that, the technical aspects of the judicial process — what assignments look like, how implementation works — will be addressed in the revision of the Human Rights Court Law, as this concerns the courts," he explained.
Pigai had an audience with Attorney General ST Burhanuddin at the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta on Friday. Following the meeting, Pigai told the press that the Attorney General supports the concept of establishing a Komnas HAM investigation unit.
"I was truly surprised because, as a human rights activist and member of civil society, when I came to the Attorney General's Office, they conveyed that what we are proposing — namely the revision of the Human Rights Law — the Attorney General and the Attorney General's Office stated that Komnas HAM may establish an investigation unit, specifically for gross human rights violations," Pigai said.
According to him, the existence of this unit would represent progress for Indonesia in becoming a dignified and humanely civilised nation. However, the technical implementation of the unit will be discussed further.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General said that the question of who would serve as investigators in the unit would be addressed in further technical discussions.
"There are now civilian investigators as well as police investigators. Under the current law, the Attorney General's Office handles human rights investigations. It is possible that we could work together. Perhaps the ministry would have some, we would have some, and we could collaborate. Those are technical matters for later," he said.