PAMEKASAN-JAYA NEWS COM – The East Java Regional Leadership Council of the Indonesian Journalists Association (DPW RAJAWALI) and the Pamekasan Branch Leadership Council of the Forum for Building the Dead (DPC FORMADES) held a peaceful demonstration in front of Pamekasan Class IIA Prison and the Narcotics Prison on Tuesday afternoon (July 15, 2025). The demonstration was sparked by allegations of the unfettered use of cell phones in prison cells and the smuggling of 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, which was smuggled into the prison via a baseball.
The demonstration was led by Jatmiko, Head of the East Java DPW Rajawali, who acted as field coordinator (korlap). He directly oversaw the demonstration in an orderly but firm manner, strongly condemning the poor supervision within the prison.
At the same location, a powerful speech was delivered by a diminutive but vocal and incisive figure, Rosy Kancil, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Prison Formades (Formades). In her speech, Rosy demanded that the relevant parties, especially the Public Relations Officer and the Head of the Class IIA Pamekasan Prison, be immediately removed from their positions for failing to uphold the dignity of the correctional institution.
“We want Pamekasan free from drugs! We want the younger generation free from immoral substances that damage the nation’s morals. If there are individuals operating behind bars, they must be dealt with firmly!” Rosy shouted in her speech, greeted by cheers from the crowd.
The Chairperson of the East Java Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of Rajawali, Sujatmiko, delivered a firm demand that combined legal, social, philosophical, and economic perspectives to uphold the integrity of the correctional institution.
Crisis of Prison Oversight and Integrity
“The freedom to use cell phones and the case of smuggling 1.3 kg of methamphetamine via baseball prove the state’s failure to protect the public and educate inmates,” Sujatmiko asserted.
Furthermore, he believes this finding violates Article 3 of Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 12/2019 concerning Minimum Service Standards for Prisons, which requires strict communication controls and inspection of goods.
Legal Accountability: Dismissal and Prosecution of Negligent Officials
1. Dismissal of Officials
The Public Relations Officer and Head of the Prison must be dismissed through a Decree of the Director General of Corrections if an Inspectorate General audit proves negligence.
2. Integrated Investigation Team
The Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights is working with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Police (Polri) to trace drug smuggling networks and investigate internal elements.
Social Impact: Prison-Community Crime
“Communication leaks behind bars expand criminal networks, even targeting the community,” Sujatmiko continued. As a result, local residents are at risk of becoming victims of drug trafficking and organized crime.
Correctional Morality: A Philosophical Critique
Referring to Plato—”A just state educates its citizens, not merely imprisons them”—Sujatmiko emphasized that prisons should be centers of moral restoration, not black market centers.
Economic Cost: “Wasted Human Investment”
Every repeat crime in prison forces the state to allocate additional funds for security, rehabilitation, and retrials. “This is a failure of investment in human development,” criticized Sujatmiko.
Immediate Action Recommendations
Install jamming devices and signal tracking devices to close gaps in illegal communication.
Open audits, including inspection results and administrative sanctions, should be published online.
Integrated officer training to strengthen prison integrity and operational standards.
“If the prison’s weaknesses are left unchecked, the danger of crime will spread to the community it is supposed to protect,” concluded Sujatmiko.
The demonstration was peaceful but filled with moral pressure on prison authorities. Security personnel also guarded the demonstration. So far, there has been no official response from Pamekasan Class IIA Prison regarding these demands.
The protesters threatened to continue their demonstrations if their demands were not immediately addressed by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and relevant law enforcement officials.**
Author: TIM Rajawali
—
