Komnas HAM: Police Most Complained in Terms of Violence

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The national commission for human rights (Komnas HAM) research commissioner, Sandrayati Moniaga, revealed that the police institution had been the most complained institution regarding violence against environmental sector human rights defenders or environmentalists from 2015 to 2019. 

“The police is the institution that receives the most reports,” said Sandra on Thursday, July 23, in an online discussion on the state’s protection for environmental human rights activists.

Komnas HAM received numerous complaints aimed at the police institution, where 2015 saw 56 complaints, 46 complaints in 2016 and 2017, 35 in 2018, and 23 complaints in 2019.

Following the police institution, corporations were ranked second based on the number of complaints processed by the human rights commission. 

The actual number of cases in the field recorded by Komnas HAM partners had actually increased but at the same time saw a dropping number of complaints that were actually filed. Sandra viewed that it may have been caused by geographical issues and communication. 

Sandra questioned the responsibility of the government and the police institution in response to this issue. “What’s important is how can we assure police can commit to protecting people when they are the ones who are being reported?”

Read: Officer Severely Abuses Witness; N. Sumatra Police Chief Sacked

Aditya Budiman