Unlike the Police, Minister Pigai Rejects On-the-Spot Shootings of Robbers

Bandung, VIVA – Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai has rejected the notion of shooting robbers on the spot without due process, saying it runs counter to human rights principles and the rule of law. Pigai said every criminal must be arrested alive for processing under the applicable law. “I do not allow people to be shot without through a clear procedure and legal process. Robbers must not be shot on the spot,” he told reporters in Bandung on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. He emphasised that live arrest is important to uncover networks, motives, and sources of criminal acts through the investigative process of law enforcement agencies. “He is a source of information, data, and facts. Law enforcement can extract data, facts, information, and identify the triggers or sources,” Pigai said. He stressed that the state must not deprive citizens of the right to life without due legal process, including against perpetrators of crime. “No one may deprive a citizen of the right to life without the procedures and processes of law that apply in a country,” he said. Pigai also reminded security forces to focus on maintaining security so that the public can carry out activities safely. Additionally, he cautioned that statements by officials endorsing shooting without due process should be treated carefully because they could entail legal consequences in practice. “That statement already enters into the realm of mens rea. Therefore, the command must be executed carefully in enforcement,” he said. According to Pigai, international law enforcement practice also prioritises live arrests for serious crimes, including terrorism, in the interests of investigation. “Even a terrorist, when captured alive, can be a source of information, a data source,” he said. Earlier, Lampung Regional Police Chief Irjen Pol Helfi Assegaf ordered all ranks to act decisively against robbers and motor vehicle theft suspects. “There is no tolerance for robbers. I have ordered shooting on the spot,” Helfi said at the Lampung Police headquarters on Friday. He said the move was taken because robberies were increasingly disconcerting the public in Lampung. He added that perpetrators of street robbery act not out of hunger but largely use the proceeds from motor vehicle theft to buy drugs. (Antara)