The LBH Jakarta started by touching on a pledge made by Widodo during his inauguration speech on October 20, 2019, or two years ago. The pledge is seen as marking the start of Widodo’s authoritarian administration.

“The reading out of pledge (by President Widodo) marked the start of the authoritarian regime. Two years into the Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration and the agenda of strengthening democracy, anti-corruption and fulfilling human rights has been progressively undermined by economic interests controlled by the oligarchy,” wrote the LBH Jakarta in a press release on Sunday October 24.

The LBH Jakarta then addressed several problematic policies issued by Widodo over the last two years ranging from the Omnibus Law on Job Creation to strategic national projects (PSN).

“A series of problematic policies were ratified during the Jokowi-Ma’ruf era such as the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, on handling the Covid-19 pandemic through to pushing through strategic national projects in the midst of a pandemic, is evidence that today’s administration has been subverted by the power of the oligarchy to enrich themselves and their groups. The proclaimed pledge of ‘holding firm to the Constitution’ which so explicitly cites concern for the fulfillment of human rights, has been proven to be empty by the issuance of problematic policies”, continued the LBH Jakarta.

Then the LBH Jakarta highlighted the impression that the Widodo administration does not have a sense of concern about creating policies which protect victims. The evidence of this is the failure to push through the ratification of several draft laws which protect victims.

“Indeed Jokowi-Ma’ruf does not have a sense of concern about creating policies which protect victims. This was confirmed when the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) and the Draft Law on Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) were never pushed through so they could be quickly deliberated and ratified”, the group said.

Furthermore, the LBH Jakarta also highlighted the corruption perception index (IPK) which only began to decline under Widodo’s watch. The weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the arbitrary sacking of 57 KPK employees was also touched on.

“Only during Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration has the corruption perception index compiled by Transparency International continued to experience a significant decline. Since it was first established the Corruption Eradication Commission has stood in the way of corrupt state and private sector officials, [but] during the Jokowi-Ma’ruf era it has been massively weakened”, they explained.

“Attacks carried out by various parties who’s interests were disrupted [by the KPK] were allowed to go ahead without the slightest attempt to defend [the KPK] by Jokowi-Ma’ruf. At the end of September, the unilateral sacking of 57 plus accomplished KPK employees proves that today’s regime is not serious about pursuing the agenda of corruption eradication”, they continued.

The final issue highlighted by the LBH Jakarta was freedom of expression and democracy in Indonesia. According to the LBH, criticism under Widodo’s watch has been met with a series of acts of violence by the police.

“Instead of criticism being listened to and accepted, peaceful demonstrations have frequently been met by a series of violent acts by the police. This adds to the long list of violations and at the same time the curbing of civil freedoms”, they said.

Base on these notes, the LBH Jakarta has recommended 13 points of evaluation which must be carried out by the Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration.

The 13 points are as follows:

1. That the Indonesian government conduct a massive reevaluation from top to bottom of the policies on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in a participatory manner which involves stake holders and the broader public, including also a reevaluation of the policies on vaccination which have been pursued to date;
2. The Indonesian government must create an atmosphere which is safe and comfortable for all of Indonesian society to be able to enjoy their right to freedom of expression and to present law enforcement officials who are democratic, have a human rights perspective and are able to respect freedom of expression;
3. That the Indonesian government stop using the Indonesian police (Polri) as a tool to curb civil freedoms and together with the Indonesian police chief promote civilian police reform within Polri as an institution;
4. That the Indonesian government seriously implement the agenda of corruption eradication by promoting the strengthening of the KPK, revoking the revised KPK Law and taking responsibility for the unilateral sacking of the 57 plus KPK employees carried out by KPK Chairperson Firli Bahuri and his colleagues;
5. That the Indonesian government revoke the Jobs Law by issuing a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) for the sake of implementing the mandate of the 1945 Constitution and the respect of human rights;
6. That the Indonesian government withdraws its appeal against the ruling of the Central Jakarta District Court in the air pollution class action and immediately implements the judge’s ruling in the case;
7. That the Indonesian government along with related ministries and government agencies issue regulations which fulfill the principles for forming legislation in order to guarantee legal protection and human rights for online peer-to-peer lending users and conduct supervision and take firm action against online lending service providers;
8. That the Indonesian government postpone or implement a moratorium on the extension of special autonomy in Papua, reformulate policies which are just and participatory on the future of the Papuan people, as well as formulating and applying just policies in order to abolish racist and discriminatory practices and the arbitrary criminalisation of indigenous Papuan people;
9. That the Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR) immediately deliberate and ratify the RUU PKS and the RUU PPRT with the full involvement of victims of sexual violence, domestic workers, supporting organisations and experts;
10. That the Indonesian government reevaluate strategic national projects which impact on the acceleration of human rights violations against local people who are impacted upon in particular, and reformulate policies which are more just, protect human rights, participatory democracy and are environmentally friendly;
11. That the Indonesian government fulfill workers’ rights, actively coordinate in efforts to implement workers’ rights, protect migrant workers from all forms of violence and the death sentence;
12. That the Indonesian government removes from the circles of power and try the perpetrators of past human rights violations and publically reveal the findings of Fact Finding Team’s investigation into the assassination human rights defender Munir;
13. That the Indonesian government seriously tackle flooding both prior to, during and after disasters, along with providing space for the broadest possible participation of effected communities in efforts to tackle flood disasters comprehensively. (maa/imk)

Detik News

Translated by James Balowski.

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