LIN Plans Peaceful Protests in South Sulawesi, Seeks Legal Certainty

GOWA, South Sulawesi — Indonesia's Lembaga Investigasi Negara (LIN) plans to mobilize around 300 members for peaceful demonstrations and meetings at the Sungguminasa District Court and the South Sulawesi Police on Sept. 15, seeking clarification over legal proceedings it says have failed to provide certainty.

The action will be led by LIN Chairman Gus Robi Irawan Wiratmoko and Budi Aryanto, director of the organization's Legal Aid Center (PBH-LIN), the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

LIN said its delegation would first visit the Sungguminasa District Court in Gowa to seek an explanation regarding court proceedings that it says have been repeatedly delayed despite evidence having been prepared and submitted.

“We are coming to ask directly about the performance of the Sungguminasa District Court. The evidence has been organized, but there are still reasons for delays. Are the people no longer being heard?” Budi told reporters on Wednesday.

Budi said people seeking justice were entitled to legal certainty and a judicial process conducted in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.

Gus Robi said LIN would continue monitoring the case to ensure that members of the public were treated fairly in the justice system.

“How can judges begin to feel that they are above others, when they were appointed to uphold justice and human dignity?” Gus Robi said.

His comments were directed at what LIN described as concerns over the judicial process. The organization did not identify a particular judge in its statement.

After the planned visit to the Sungguminasa District Court, the LIN delegation is expected to proceed to the South Sulawesi Police headquarters to seek an update on a report concerning alleged land encroachment involving land said to be used by SMA 14 Gowa, a senior high school in the area.

LIN has called on police to provide clarity on the status of the report and to proceed with the investigation in accordance with the law.

The organization said a clear legal process was needed to prevent the dispute from escalating into tensions within the community and to ensure that the rights of parties involved were protected.

Gus Robi said the planned action would be conducted peacefully and through constitutional channels.

“We are not anarchists. We are coming through constitutional means. But we will continue to monitor the process until the people receive legal certainty,” Gus Robi said.

LIN said its legal aid division would continue providing legal assistance to members of the public and monitoring law enforcement and judicial processes.

The Sungguminasa District Court and the South Sulawesi Police could not immediately be reached for comment on the planned action and the legal matters cited by LIN. (Gusti Haes)