Komnas HAM is Asked to Completely Investigate Tangerang Prison Fire

October 31st, 2021, 16:03:41 WIB

JawaPos.com – The Advocacy Team for Fire Victims (TAKK) sued the government and asked the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to restore the status of the fire victims at the Tangerang Class I Penitentiary (Tangerang Prison). This is done by granting mass amnesty to the dead.

In this incident, at least 49 people have been killed. Almost a month after the incident occurred, the government has taken actions after the Tangerang prison fire, such as identifying the victims who died, treating the injured victims, burying the dead and giving some money to the families of the victims who died.

"Demanding the government with good intentions to provide appropriate compensation according to the needs of each victim's family," Imparsial Executive Director Gufron Mabruri said in a statement, Sunday (31/10).

Gufron explained that his party had opened a complaint post to the families of the victims who wanted to sue the government before the law for the Tangerang prison fire. There were at least 9 complainants who made complaints to the coalition, of the 9 complainants there were 7 families of victims who requested legal assistance from the coalition.

"The families of the victims provided information to the coalition regarding the identification process carried out by the government for the victims of the Tangerang prison fire. From the statement of the victim's family, there are at least seven findings that were found from the post-fire response process at the Tangerang Prison which was submitted to the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (Komnas Ham)," said Gufron.

First, the unclear process of identifying the body of the deceased. That the process of identifying the victim's body is not clear and transparent. In fact, until the last time the deceased was buried, there was no accurate information showing on what basis the victim's body could really be identified.

Second, the non-disclosure of the delivery of the bodies of the deceased. That at the time of handing over the victim's body to the family, the body was put in a coffin that had been tightly closed so that it was not possible for the family to open it themselves.

“When the victim's family asked for the coffin to be opened so they could see the victim's body, instead of being allowed to see the victim's body, the family seemed to be given a suggestion that they would experience trauma if they saw the condition of the victim's body. Even so, the family still wants to see the victim's body, but it's still not allowed and in the end still can't see the condition of the victim's body for the last time, "said Gufron.

Third, the inadequacy of the victim's coffin. That based on the statement of the victim's family who took the victim's body, the body was put into a coffin with the names of each victim written on it with paper affixed to the coffin. The coffin is made of ordinary plywood which is not suitable for use as a coffin.

"Therefore, there are families of victims who even buy their own coffin so that it can be placed into a proper coffin," said Gufron.

Fourth, there was intimidation during the signing of administrative documents and taking the bodies of the victims. That at the time of signing the documents, the location of the signatory and the location of the placement of the bodies in different locations. The location of the bodies on the first floor, while the signing on the second floor.

The victim's family was then taken up the stairs to the second floor to enter a room that the victim's family felt was not suitable for signing documents. At the time of the signing, the victim's family was asked to sign in a hurry, surrounded by many people.

Fifth, there is an effort to silence the victim's family so that the victim's family does not sue any party for the Tangerang prison fire incident. At the time of signing the documents at the time of handing over the victim's body with conditions indicated to be intimidating, there was a statement letter given to the victim's family to be signed, which contained a statement that there would be no charges against the prison and other parties in the future.

Sixth, there is no continuous psychological assistance to the victim's family after the handover of the victim's body. That the Tangerang prison fire has left a never ending sorrow for the victim's family.

"However, after the handover of the body, the government seems to have let go and does not provide psychological assistance to the victim's family who at least need medical assistance from trauma after the Tangerang prison fire incident," said Gufron.

Seventh, the government's giving of 30 million IDR did not help the victim's family at all. That, based on the information of the families of the victims, the government gave at least 30 million.

"The money is said to be a form of 'love money' from the government for the Tangerang prison fire. Instead of being a form of love or assistance to the bereaved family, the money is only used for consolation or prayers for the deceased," said Gufron.

Seventh, these findings indicate four basic problems in the response process after the Tangerang prison fire incident. First, the non-disclosure of information on identifying the bodies of the deceased; second, the inadequacy of burial of the bodies of the deceased; third, there was an abuse of circumstances during the process of handing over the victim's body which had an impact on allegations of human rights violations experienced by the victim's family; fourth, the absence of accountability for compensation given to the victim's family.