Indonesia’s ‘humane’ new criminal code sparks warnings about civil liberties curbs
Observers say the new Criminal Code and revised Criminal Procedure Code entrench provisions that undermine democracy
The new Criminal Code and revised Criminal Procedure Code came into force on Friday, ending decades of debate over how to replace Dutch-era statutes that officials said no longer reflected Indonesian society.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration, and corrections, said the implementation of the new codes marked “a historic moment” for Indonesia.
“We officially leave behind the colonial criminal justice system and enter a more humane, modern, and just era of law enforcement,” Yusril said in a statement on Friday.
The Dutch-era criminal code was deemed “no longer relevant to the dynamics of modern Indonesian society”, as it was “repressive, emphasised imprisonment, and paid little attention to restorative justice and human rights protection”, he said.