Indonesia's Human Rights Minister Defends Free Meal Program, KPK Stops Corruption Probe

Human rights minister Natalius Pigai told reporters that the government’s free school‑meal scheme (Makan Bergizi Gratis, MBG) should not be labelled a human‑rights violation. He said the programme is still being rolled out, and any mis‑management or legal breaches ought to be handled as administrative or criminal offences, not as rights violations. Pigai likened the rollout to an unfinished building that requires ongoing evaluation, and criticised Komnas HAM for misunderstanding human‑rights principles.

In Papua, Thomas Ch. Syufi, director of the Papuan Observatory for Human Rights, argued that Indonesia’s military‑justice system needs reform. He said soldiers who commit ordinary crimes against civilians should be tried in civilian courts, noting that the current reliance on military courts creates impunity and limits transparency. Syufi called for amendment of the 1997 Military Court Law to align with the 2004 TNI Law, which already distinguishes between military and general offences.