TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara, criticized the regulation issued by Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris who ordered raids against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Beka considered the policy to bediscriminative.

"We have sent a letter to Depok Mayor, asking for the cancelation of the policy and demanding protection for sexual minority," said Beka in a written statement on Monday, January 13, 2020.

Depok Mayor reasoned that the regulation is one of the efforts to anticipate and prevent the spread of LGBT activities in the region. Idris had instructed the raids to the Regional Apparatus Organization (OPD) on January 10, 2020.

The Depok administration also opened up a complaint center for LGBT victims following the shocking case of Reynhard Sinaga, who was later identified as Depok resident, in Manchester, UK.

Beka asserted that the policy contradicted Article 28G(1) and Article 28I(2) of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantee the security and freedom from discrimination.

Beka went on to say that World Health Organization in 1992 had dismissed the sexual minority from the list of mental disease, that was then implemented by the Health Ministry through the Guidelines for the Classification of Mental Disorder Diagnosis (PPDGJ)-III.

"Therefore, Komnas HAM demands Depok administration to halt the policy and provide protection for sexual minority (LGBT community) from discriminative acts and violence," Beka underlined.

EGI ADYATAMA