RI Encourages Formation of Witness Protection Agencies in ASEAN

Kuta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia is encouraging the formation of witness and victim protection agency in each ASEAN member country to facilitate the disclosure of transnational crimes, a spokesman said.

"The special agency is one of the recommendations we produced at the meeting," Chief of the Indonesian Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) Abdul Haris Semendawai said after an ASEAN meeting on protection of witnesses and victims of transnational crimes here on Wednesday.

Hopefully, the formation of the agency could encourage exchange of information and knowledge among ASEAN member states, he said.

The outcome of the meeting would serve as a basis for the establishment of cooperation among ASEAN member states in the protection of witnesses and victims of transnational crimes, he said.

"There has been a common view of the need to protect witnesses physically without revealing their identities and whereabouts," he said.

In addition, the meeting also underscored the need to provide security and medical services to and restore psychological condition of witnesses and victims of transnational crimes, he said.

Haris expressed hope that the Indonesian government could prepare secretariat to facilitate the formation of the special agency. (*/M038)