Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Senior lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea criticized the ratification of the draft penal code (RKUHP) became law by the government and the DPR in the plenary session on Tuesday (6/12).
Through a video on his Instagram, Hotman says that many articles of the penal code are problematic because, according to him, they do not contain legal rationale, even in today’s modern times.
“Too many articles of the penal code that you have legalized contain no legal rationale and are reasonable in modern times,” Hotman said as quoted from the video uploaded to his social media account, Thursday (12/8).
“I, who has been practicing law for nearly 40 years, really don’t understand that in this modern era, such legal products still exist,” he added.
Threats to foreign tourists
Hotman then saw that one that could impact the implementation of the new penal code was that foreign tourists were afraid to come to Indonesia. He also mentioned that the Indonesian people have been affected by this policy.
“DPR members see it, there is upheaval everywhere, tourists are reluctant to come to Indonesia and ultimately it is the people who are economically the ones who bear the consequences of your actions,” Hotman said.
He therefore calls for the immediate abrogation of the recently ratified penal code.
“Poor people, cancel it, the people will pay the price, the Indonesian economy will pay the price,” he said.
Aside from that, he also insinuated that most of the DPR members who passed the RKUHP were not experts in criminal law. In fact, according to Hotman, the penal code itself is rich in analyzes and contents of profound legal philosophy.
For your information, the RI DPR officially passed the RKUHP Act on Tuesday (6/12). The ratification was carried out amid public rejection which held that the new penal code contains many controversial articles and violates human rights (HAM) freedom of expression.
(mnf/child)
