Indonesia forms working group to resolve stalled human rights cases

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has established an inter-agency working group to resolve long-standing procedural deadlocks between investigators and rights monitors handling past alleged gross human rights violations, officials said Monday.

Led by Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Otto Hasibuan, the working group includes representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Police, judicial figures, and legal scholars.

Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the initiative follows directives from President Prabowo Subianto to resolve jurisdictional friction that has stalled investigations into historic rights cases.

Under Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Courts, Komnas HAM conducts preliminary inquiries, while formal investigations and prosecutions fall under the Attorney General's Office.

Out of 17 recognized historical cases, only four have gone to court, leaving 13 stalled in procedural loops between inquirers and prosecutors over evidentiary standards.

"So, what was inquired into is handed back," Mahendra told reporters in Jakarta. "The investigators say, 'This is insufficient, try to follow up on it.' The inquirers say, 'Our capacity as inquirers only goes this far.' There are obstacles like that."

Unresolved cases include the 1965–1966 anti-communist purges, the 1980s extrajudicial killings ("petrus"), the 1989 Talangsari incident, the 1997–1998 forced disappearances, the May 1998 riots, and the Trisakti and Semanggi shootings.

Mahendra emphasized that the task force will not alter existing statutes, but will establish practical working mechanisms to align inquiries with prosecutorial requirements.

Hasibuan added that the working group is evaluating options such as assigning prosecutorial supervisors to assist Komnas HAM during the initial inquiry phase to ensure evidence fulfills legal criteria before files are formally submitted.

Translator: Fath Putra M, Fauzul Azhim Bin Fakhrurazi
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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