Governor Dedi Mulyadi Defends Beggar Bounty Amid Human Rights Criticism
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced a bounty programme that offers rewards of Rp5 million to Rp50 million to citizens who capture beggars, robbers or other street criminals and hand them over to police alive. He said the scheme is meant to protect both victims and perpetrators and thanked Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai for reminding him not to violate the rights of offenders.
Minister Pigai publicly criticised the initiative, calling it potentially dangerous, unethical and urging that it remain a joke rather than a serious policy. She warned that untrained civilians could resort to violence when confronting suspects. Coordinating minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra also warned against "vigilante" actions and called on the police to increase security to prevent self‑administered justice.
Governor Mulyadi countered that the programme is not about encouraging citizens to act as judges, but about encouraging them to hand over suspects to authorities. He claimed that street crime and robbery rates in West Java have fallen since the programme’s launch, citing data from the provincial police. The governor also noted that the announcement was made via his personal Instagram account and that provincial officials are working with police to boost night patrols and other security measures.
Entities: Bounty program for capturing beggars · Dedi Mulyadi · Ministry of Human Rights of Indonesia · Natalius Pigai · West Java · West Java Province · Yusril Ihza Mahendra
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai criticized the bounty program as potentially dangerous and unethical, saying it should remain a joke if taken seriously. (Natalius Pigai)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced a bounty program offering rewards of Rp5 million to Rp50 million for citizens who capture beggars, robbers or other street criminals and hand them over to police alive. (Governor Dedi Mulyadi)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Provincial authorities are coordinating with police to increase night patrols and other security measures alongside the bounty program. (Provincial authorities)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Coordinating minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra warned against vigilante actions and urged the police to increase security. (Yusril Ihza Mahendra)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Governor Mulyadi thanked Minister Pigai for reminding him not to violate the human rights of offenders. (Governor Dedi Mulyadi)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Governor Mulyadi claimed that street crime and robbery rates in West Java have decreased since the bounty program’s launch. (Governor Dedi Mulyadi)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The bounty program was announced via Governor Mulyadi’s personal Instagram account. (Governor Dedi Mulyadi)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The program is intended to protect both victims and perpetrators, according to the governor. (Governor Dedi Mulyadi)