Watchdog Questions BNN`s Police Report Against Haris Azhar
4 August 2016 09:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters have filed libel charge against Haris Azhar, the coordinator of the Commission of Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, to Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim). Haris has allegedly violated the Law on Information and Economic Transactions (UU ITE) in connection with the publication of death row convict Freddy Budiman’s testimony.
Reports said that Bareskrim had intended to summon Haris Azhar. Police Public Relations chief had even verbally conveyed the plan to summon Haris Azhar.
Many have lamented the BNN and the TNI’s stance against Haris Azhar. The use of the articles concerning defamation is deemed unfounded.
Presidium chairman of the Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) Neta S. Pane has questioned that the use of Article 310, paragraph (1) of Indonesian Criminal Code on defamation. Haris had been reported to police since he had named the government institutions allegedly affiliated with drug syndicates. “In Freddy’s case, Haris had never named anyone, so he has defamed no one,” Neta said.
The use of Article 207 of the Criminal Code is also deemed unfounded. The article says that whoever insult in public a public official or public agency could face a maximum of 1 year and six month in prison. Neta has questioned whether the words used by Haris were defamatory. Haris had only suggested the need for improvement in morality and mental revolution of state apparatus to completely eliminate drug trafficking.
ARKHELAUS W. | LARISSA HUDA | FAUZY DZULFIQAR