Constitutional Justice Manahan Sitompul speaking at a general lecture on the Role of the Constitutional Court in the Constitutional System of the Republic of Indonesia at the Law Faculty of Yapis University, Papua, in April 27, 2018. Photo by Humas MK.

Awareness to citizens’ constitutional rights continues to be promoted in events all round the country up to Papua. At the auditorium of Yapis University (Uniyap), Constitutional Justice Manahan Sitompul delivered a general lecture on the Role of the Constitutional Court in the Constitutional System of the Republic of Indonesia (27/04/2018).

Justice Manahan said to the university students, practitioners, and academia of Yapis University that as interpreter and guardian of the Constitution and democracy, the Constitutional Court always hoped that the regional election in Papua would always run within the limits of constitutional democracy and in peace and safely.

Justice Manahan also talked about the Constitutional Court’s landmark decisions that affect the legal and constitutional system. Through the Court’s authority as interpreter of the Constitution, the Court is mandated by the 1945 Constitution to interpret the articles of the Constitution when any citizen petition for a review of a law against the Constitution. “Pursuant to Article 24C paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of the Constitutional Court Law, the Constitutional Court is authorized to interpret any law petitioner for review, where the interpretation is final,” he asserted.

In the next session, Justice Manahan discussed the Court’s preparation in handling regional election results dispute resolution in June by passing Constitutional Court Regulations (PMK) No. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of 2018 and organizing the Technical Assistance Program of the Dispute Resolution over the Results of the 2018 Simultaneous Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center.

The general lecture was attended by over 150 participants from the law faculty and others. It was officially opened by Rector Muhdi Ibrahim. The speakers fielded critical questions from the students, including on the protection of the rights of Papuan citizens. (mma/Yuniar Widiastuti)