Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto speaking at the Law Faculty of Trunojoyo University of Madura, Friday (9/30/2022). Photo by MKRI.

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Friday, September 30, 2022 | 20:16 WIB

JAKARTA (MKRI) — Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto delivered his remarks at an event entitled “Constitution and State’s Responsibility in Realizing Justice and Welfare” at the Law Faculty of Trunojoyo University of Madura (UTM), which was part of the university’s 41th anniversary on Friday, September 30, 2022. He urged the students to understand the state’s role in realizing fair and prosperous nation.

He said that Indonesia’s independence was the golden moment that directed Indonesia toward just and prosperous society. This can be seen in the fourth paragraph of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, which reflects the state’s responsibility to fulfill the needs of its people in any situation. The Constitution is the state’s medium to realize welfare for its people, which it achieves through just and equitable development in all dimensions of life based on social justice for all Indonesian people, as is shown in the fifth precept of Pancasila and in the 1945 Constitution, which mandates the Government to develop social welfare.

“So, all norms on how we live as a nation are regulated in the Constitution, but because it is a basic rule, it is necessary to spell it out in laws. For example, the need for water, which in the Netherlands is not for sale, so water faucets are provided in public areas, while in Indonesia the state has the responsibility to regulate this,” Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto said.

He also explained that the state has the obligation to protect the Constitution, hence the establishment of the Constitutional Court, which serves to guard the Constitution. If there are laws and regulations that are unclear, the Constitutional Court interprets the Constitution. It also protects human rights. These functions are to carry out government obligations.

“Why must the Constitution be maintained? So that the norms made by legislators really emphasizes the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Thus, the Constitutional Court was given several authorities,” he explained.

In order to create a just and prosperous society, the Constitutional Court within its authority can carry out its function as the protector of democracy. If the government does not carry out its duties in creating a just and prosperous life, the Constitutional Court exercises its authority. It also guards the Constitution by protecting the state from political parties that are not in accordance with the nation’s ideology. The only authority that the Constitutional Court has not carried out is the impeachment of the president or vice president.

“We must understand the contents of the Constitution comprehensively, only then will our country be safe. If we know our rights, we will not interfere with the rights of other people, then a just and prosperous life will be achieved,” he added.

Writer        : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 11/18/2022 09:32 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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