..there needs to be transparency so the public can see that these efforts are serious,
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has called for greater transparency in law enforcement efforts against forest and land fires, including public disclosure of actions taken against individuals and corporations suspected of involvement.
Komnas HAM Commissioner for Research and Studies Uli Parulian Sihombing said transparency was crucial to enabling the public to track cases from the investigation stage through prosecution in court.
“From what the experts and civil society groups have presented to us, they noted that law enforcement efforts remain ineffective. What is needed is transparency and access to information regarding who is being held accountable,” he said here on Tuesday.
He said Komnas HAM appreciated law enforcement efforts by the police, the Ministry of Forestry, and other relevant ministries and agencies. However, he stressed that these efforts must be accompanied by transparency for the public.
“Suspects have already been named, including both individuals and corporations. But there needs to be transparency so the public can see that these efforts are serious,” he said.
Uli noted that Komnas HAM was reviewing the regulatory framework governing forest and land fire prevention and management, with input from civil society organizations and academics.
The review aims to assess whether existing regulations align with various human rights principles, particularly the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment and the right to restitution for victims.
According to Uli, a key area of concern is the effectiveness of law enforcement, including the application of administrative and criminal sanctions in addressing forest and land fires.
He cited Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, specifically Article 613 paragraph (3), which he said prioritizes administrative sanctions over criminal penalties.
Uli explained that the principle of ultimum remedium treats criminal sanctions as a last resort after non-penal mechanisms have been considered. However, he emphasized that this principle does not eliminate the need for criminal prosecution in forest and land fire cases.
Komnas HAM hopes law enforcement efforts will be carried out effectively and fairly, ultimately resulting in court rulings that can be fully enforced.
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Translator: Devi Nindy, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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