received a visit from Amien Rais at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. During the meeting, the case for the deaths of six members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) on Dec. 7, 2020, was discussed.
By
ANITA YOSSIHARA
·3 minutes read
SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo held a meeting with former Chairman of the People\'s Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais, who came to the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (9/3/2021), to provide input regarding the handling of the case of the death of six FPI members.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Former Speaker of the People\'s Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais, Tuesday (9/3/2021), paid a visit to Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, to meet with President Joko Widodo. Even though the meeting was only about 15 minutes, the President\'s meeting with Amien is considered to be the first step toward reconciliation among elements of the nation.
The meeting was President Jokowi\'s first with Amien after the two of them took different political positions in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
Amien met President Jokowi to give input regarding the handling of the case of the deaths of the six FPI members on Dec. 7, 2020, during a clash with members of the National Police on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road. He was accompanied, among others, by former Corruption Eradication Commission Advisor Abdullah Hehamahua, KH Muhyiddin Junaidi, Marwan Batubara, and other members of the Murder Incident Guard Team (TP3). This case is currently being handled by the National Police.
Before the meeting, the President, who was accompanied by the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and State Secretary Pratikno welcomed Amien and his team as they entered the main room of the Palace. During the meeting, the former chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Board sat facing the President.
Jokowi then escorted Amien to the door of Merdeka Palace when the meeting was over. The two of them then greeted each other while bowing.
Treated fairly
SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo held a meeting with the the Murder Incident Guard Team members led by former Chairman of the People\'s Consultative Assembly Amien Rais at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (9/3/2021).
After the meeting, Mahfud virtually explained that Amien conveyed his input so that law enforcement on the deaths of the six FPI members was carried out fairly. TP3 also expressed its belief that there was a serious human rights violation in the incident. "They asked that this (case) be brought to a human rights court because they believed that in the murder there was a gross human rights violation, not an ordinary human rights violation," said Mahfud.
President Jokowi, according to Mahfud, had asked the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to independently investigate the deaths of the six FPI members. The government did not interfere with the investigation by Komnas HAM, let alone intervene in the conclusion of the investigation.
They asked that this (case) be brought to a human rights court because they believed that in the murder there was a gross human rights violation.
Mahfud explained that Komnas HAM had submitted its findings and recommendations to the President. One of the findings, the incident at Kilometer Marker 50 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in December 2020 was an ordinary violation.
In order to maintain independence, Mahfud said, the government would not form a joint fact-finding team, as many circles have urged. Nevertheless, the government is still open to receiving input.
The government is ready to accept any other evidence, including evidence of the gross human rights violations.
The President\'s meeting with Amien received appreciation from the Professor of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), Jakarta, Azyumardi Azra.
"The president is willing to accept, then Pak Amien wants to come (to the Palace). That\'s good," he said.
This, according to Azyumardi, is a positive thing that needs to be appreciated. "They want to meet each other. Its term is the first step toward reconciliation, improvement, islah (restoration)," said Azyumardi when contacted.
Because the meeting is a first step, it seems necessary to follow it up.
