Updates on the 2015 Legislative Priorities
On June 16, 2015, the Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly held a meeting with the Legislative Body of the House of Representatives (Baleg DPR). At the meeting, Yasonna, on behalf of the government, proposed a revision of the Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (RUU KPK), a revision of Law No. 13/1985 on Duty Stamps (RUU Bea Materai), and a revision of Law No. 1/2002 on the Eradication of Terrorism (RUU Terorisme). The Baleg accepted the proposal and included the RUU KPK into the 2015 National Legislation Priorities (Prolegnas Prioritas 2015) along with RUU Bea Materai. RUU Terorisme will be added into the Prolegnas Prioritas 2016 instead.
The Move towards Land Reform
The Law on Basic Regulation on Agrarian Principle (UUPA) was enacted in 1960. As its name suggests, the original purpose of the promulgation of UUPA was to address all agrarian issues in one key legislation. The UUPA should’ve also addressed all natural resources agenda. But the drafting process, which took 12 years, was marred by unstable state administration and political conflicts. And so we arrived at an imperfect piece of legislation.
Shortage of Judges
It’s been five years since the last time the Supreme Court (MA) and the Judicial Commission (KY) carry out the selection of judicial candidates (cakim). This means that the number of judges in Indonesia has not gone up since 2010, if anything, we are losing judges because many have entered into retirement since then.
Obstacles in the 35,000 MW Power Program
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s 35,000 MW program was launched in early May. Since then, many have wondered whether Indonesia will be able to attract investors for it. But really, even though attracting investor is a concerned, it is hardly the real issue. Attracting money has never really been a problem. The big concern lies elsewhere, with regulations.
Legislative Journal : Government Regulation No. 11/2015
The Director General (Dirjen) for Sea Transportation in the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), Bobby R. Mamahit, said that the government was revisiting Government Regulation (PP) No. 11/2015 concerning the Types and Tariffs on Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) in the Ministry of Transportation. Since its enactment, PP 11/2015 has sparked debates among transportation stakeholders.
Angeline and the Future of Child Protection
Last week the Bali police ended weeks of search for an 8-year old reported missing by her adopted mother. Angeline was found dead, buried in her own backyard under a pile of rubbish. She was reported missing on May 16, 2015. Autopsy result concluded that Angeline had been dead for three weeks. She suffered blunt force trauma to her head. She was also reportedly raped post mortem. The police have named the former housekeeper to Angeline’s household suspect.
The Death of Jopi Peranginangin & the Need to Reform the Military Court
Investigation into the murder of Sawit Watch activist Jopi Peranginangin has led to one arrest. J.L., who’s an active-duty navy soldier, has been named as suspect in Jopi’s murder. As a soldier, J.L. will be tried at the military court. The Military Police investigation team of the Navy Main Base (POM Lantamal) III has held a reenactment of the murder on June 11, 2015. Results will be submitted to military prosecutors.
The Notorious Justice Artidjo
The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Hamdan Zoelva recently said that there have been worrying developments in the Supreme Court (MA) related to the implementation of procedural law in the appeal process. This concern, we may assume, refers to the figure of Justice Artidjo Alkostar. For those convicted of corruption, Justice Artidjo is bad news. Artidjo is known to often aggravate sentences at the appeal process, especially if it’s a corruption case. His latest “victim” is the former Chaiman of the Democratic Party Anas Urbaningrum.
Dahlan’s Electric Car Program Ends Up in Court?
Remember in early 2013 when Dahlan Iskan, then minister of state-owned enterprises, was questioned by East Java police over the crash of a prototype electric car. Dahlan, driver of the locally produced car called Tucuxi, admitted to violating traffic regulations, but the Police released him from charges. Just when we think the episode of Tucuxi ended with Dahlan’s term in the cabinet, the Attorney General’s Office questions Dahlan over an alleged corruption in the project.
SP3 for Angkasa Pura I
After running an investigation for nearly a year, the Attorney Generla’s Office (AGO) decided to discontinue investigation into the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of five units of fire trucks at PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I). The AGO’s Head of Subdirectorate of Investigation Sarjono Turin said that the Warrant for Termination of Investigation (SP3) has been issued by the AGO since a while ago because the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) did not find any state losses.