JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – In response to statements made by Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Prisons, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Amnesty International Indonesia criticized the government’s rhetoric on human rights as empty and ineffective.

Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, argued that the government’s commitment to human rights, as stated by Minister Yusril, fails to match the reality on the ground.

He pointed out that while significant legal frameworks have been established since the Reform era to uphold human rights, the government’s actions often fall short of expectations. According to him, the government’s failure to address ongoing human rights violations, particularly those involving state security forces, has allowed a culture of impunity to persist.

“Minister Yusril’s speech on Human Rights Day is nothing more than empty rhetoric, easily contradicted by the facts if the government were to truly examine the situation,” Hamid said.

He emphasized that while laws may exist on paper, enforcement and accountability have often been neglected, leaving victims of human rights violations without justice.

The Amnesty director specifically highlighted the government’s failure to resolve longstanding cases of human rights violations, including abuses committed during past regimes. These unresolved cases continue to haunt the nation and undermine the credibility of the government’s commitment to justice.

Usman also criticized Minister Yusril’s assertion that every citizen enjoys equal human rights regardless of their background. He noted that this statement came just days after the Kuningan district government in West Java banned the Ahmadiyya Muslim community from holding a meeting from December 6-8, 2024.