QUOTES: As Indonesian parliament debates changes to the country's Penal Code.

“As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, now is not the time for Indonesia to be pushing through major legislation such as the highly contested new draft Penal Code,” said Kasit Piromya, a former Thai Member of Parliament (MP), and Board Member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR). “The decision to retable the draft Penal Code at a time like this, suggests that the government is trying to take advantage of the situation for political gain as the contested law might slip under the radar as people focus on responding to the pandemic.” 

“Last year the government faced mass protests when it introduced the Draft Penal Code. It is now pushing it through at the height of a pandemic, conveniently at a time when public gatherings are to be avoided.”

“Instead, Indonesian authorities should take the time to conduct open and inclusive consultations with the public and relevant civil society actors to ensure that any revisions to the Penal Code respects human rights,” Piromya said.