VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD urged the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) to respect human rights and maintain the present situation that drew praises from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

"Let us maintain and preserve human rights and maintain this good recognition. We must prevent the military from committing organized or deliberate crimes against humanity," Mahfud stated in his remarks to some 900 Indonesian Army unit commanders on a roll call at the Military Academy, Magelang, Central Java, Thursday, as per an official statement.

The minister noted that the Indonesian military already had in place a standard operational procedure regulating various actions to prevent human rights violations.

The coordinating minister expounded that Indonesia was not among the 21 countries whose progress in terms of human rights was highlighted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 50th session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday (June 13).

Indonesia's exclusion from the list meant that the country had no negative record in human rights enforcement and protection for the last three years, according to Mahfud.

During the roll call briefing attended by Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurrahman, Mahfud also lauded the military that had emerged as the most trusted institution over the last seven years as per survey reports from various credible research organizations.

"I wish to congratulate and express gratitude (to the military) because according to surveys conducted by credible research organizations, the TNI is the most trusted institution among other institutions in Indonesia," the coordinating minister affirmed.

He then urged the military, particularly the Indonesian Army, to exercise prudence in responding to various situations and changes on the national, regional, or global scale that may affect national stability and security, particularly before and during the 2024 General Elections.

Concluding his remarks, Mahfud expressed optimism that the military would continue to be an example for the people in supporting national economic recovery, encouraging structural reform, and addressing the people's difficulties through non-war military operations. (Antaranews)