Legal Literacy - Indonesia claims itself as a state of law that upholds human rights (HAM). The 1945 Constitution Article 28A – 28J explicitly states that every citizen has the right to life, to obtain justice, and to be free from arbitrary treatment. Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights also requires the state to protect its people. However, the facts on the ground show that this is just empty rhetoric, especially when talking about the conditions of workers at PT Freeport Indonesia.

After the government took over 51% of Freeport's shares in 2018, the company became even more arbitrary towards its workers. Thousands of employees were laid off unilaterally without a fair mechanism, some were even threatened with weapons when demanding their rights. Many lives were lost in this conflict, but the state remained silent and allowed injustice to continue.

The State That is Silent in the Face of Corporations

Amidst the government's sweet promises to uphold justice, the opposite is happening. Workers who fight for their rights are instead faced with intimidation, not legal protection. The state, which should be present, instead allows Freeport to act like a ruler in the Papua region, with security forces more often siding with the company's interests than the people's.

Testimonies from workers invited to Commission III of the DPR RI revealed how Freeport has committed various serious violations. Mass layoffs were carried out without adequate compensation, and when workers demanded their rights, they were instead faced with threats of violence. This fact is no longer an allegation, but real evidence that the state has failed to fulfill its obligations in upholding human rights.

Even worse, this violation has not received serious attention from the central government. No concrete steps have been taken to investigate and punish those responsible, even though this case has been voiced many times. Isn't this real evidence that the state is more on the side of business interests than the welfare of its people?