KontraS Condemns Use of Intelligence Service in RKUHP Dissemination

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) strongly condemns the government’s decision to involve the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) in disseminating the Criminal Code Draft Bill (RKUHP) across a number of regions. The human rights watchdog asserts that it shows how excessive the country’s intelligence service works outside of its main task. 

"We consider that this involvement also triggers an escalation of fear in the community, especially in discussing various issues that are still listed in the latest draft of the RKUHP," said KontraS Coordinator, Fatia Maulidiyanti, in a statement on August 31.

According to Fatia, the series of rejections against the RKUHP which is currently appearing in society should not be responded to by the government with the mobilization of intelligence service. Fatia strongly believes that the public discourse regarding the rejection of the RKUHP is not a threat to the nation’s security.

“There is certainly zero urgencies in having the intelligence service involved in the dissemination of a government regulation,” Fatia asserted.

Back to the New Order Ways 

Fatia Maulidiyanti said that the government has seemed to justify various ways to accelerate its various agendas, especially when it is opposed by the general public. Currently, the politics used is the mobilization of power by deploying the apparatus and intelligence to solve problems.

According to her, such a method was considered political propaganda during the New Order era and is certainly a dangerous strategy to implement in the current era of democracy. As this will create terror which will eventually restrict the space for expression.

Meanwhile, KontraS Research and Documentation Division staff, Rozy Brilian explained, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) will be deployed to identify activities within the community, especially those who reject the RKUHP. In fact, according to him, the process of making laws should be approached with dialogue and not spreading fear by stalking and spying on the public.

BIN's involvement was previously disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, who said the involvement of the Intelligence services in this RKUHP dissemination was a direct instruction from President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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