Minister Natalius Pigai Warns Pardoned Inmates Against Creating Instability After Release

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister Human Rights Natalius Pigai has asked approximately 44,000 who will receive amnesty from the government to provide suggestions and ideas for the country. He urges them not to create instability after being released.

"After their freedom, do not create instability. Create peace, sell ideas, fight at the level of ideas," Pigai said during a working meeting with Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Natalius Pigai stated that the government will be open to ideas from the inmates. "So we are always happy if anyone to whom we grant amnesty in a political context fights with more beneficial ideas and ideologies," he said.

The former member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) ensured that imprisoned activists would be released.

Exceptions apply to those who have raised weapons. "Activists of the KNPB (West Papua National Committee) in Papua, any activists are all granted freedom," he said.

The government announced a plan to pardon approximately 44,000 inmates. On Friday, December 13, 2024, Prabowo held a limited meeting with Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas; Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra; Minister of Law Natalius Pigai; National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo; and Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin.

After the limited meeting, Supratman said, approximately 44,000 inmates meet the criteria to be proposed to receive amnesty. This figure is based on data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. However, the number is still under assessment.

Before the inmates are released, the government plans to provide pocketbooks and human rights education. Pigai hopes that human rights education can shift the mindset of the inmates from 'criminal' to 'humanist.'

"That's human rights education. Like not to steal, not to lie, not to insult, not to kill. There will be a human rights pocketbook, and we will teach. We have been to the field several times," he said.

Tempo obtained a digital copy of the pocketbook published by the Ministry of Law for the amnesty recipients. The book entitled 'Human Rights Pocket Book: Inmates through the President of the Republic of Indonesia's Amnesty' consists of 32 pages including a cover featuring a photo of President Prabowo Subianto.

The book has four chapters covering explanations of , forms of human rights violations, the rights and obligations of inmates, and the rights and obligations of citizens.

Alfitria Nefi P and Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.

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