Yusril: State's Failure to Provide Security Fuels Vigilantism

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has warned of the critical importance of the state’s role in providing a sense of security to the public. He asserted that the state’s failure to curb street crime is the main trigger for the increasing trend of vigilante actions.

The statement was made in response to a spate of thefts, robberies, and muggings across various regions that have recently culminated in fatal mob attacks. “In the incidents in Bali and Morowali, there was no visible prevention by law enforcement officers, allowing the masses to freely beat the victims to death,” Yusril stated on Wednesday.

“The police need to enhance security and protection for the community. If the state fails to provide a sense of safety from theft, robbery, and muggings, the public’s tendency to take the law into their own hands will also increase,” he added.

Yusril stressed that such negligence, if left unchecked, could escalate into serious human rights violations. To counter this phenomenon and restore public safety, he is initiating a Joint Coordination Meeting involving the police, relevant ministries, and independent state bodies such as Komnas HAM, LPSK, Komnas Perempuan, and KPAI, aiming for an integrated approach to handling street crime without disregarding law enforcement and human rights principles.