US Under Secretary Sarah Sewall: Forceful Law Enforcement is Pressing in Each and Every Domain

An indiscriminating law enforcement, especially related to corruption eradication, is pressing for intensification, because corruption is a manifestation of economic crime that may touch every citizen through unfair business practices. Reinforcement of a equal law implementation is also urgent for democratic countries for a very likely risk of discrimination by the majority over minority.

These matters were addressed by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall in her remarks before BINUS INTERNATIONAL’s students, on Sarah Sewall’s “The Rule of Law as It is Applicable to the Business Community” public lecture, at BINUS’ Joseph Wibowo Centre (JWC) Campus, Senayan, this Tuesday (8/12).

Under Secretary Sewall further stated that unequivocal corruption eradication and law enforcement are absolutely relevant as it may positively affect private sector and encourage healthy society. In terms of corruption eradicating efforts, Indonesia and the US have established a cooperation through the Open Government Partnership (OGP), being a global platform for 79 countries making every endeavour to achieve transparent and overt government and society.

By menas of the platform, the US shares its best-practices and yet learn from other countries, including Indonesia’s innovative ways. In Under Secretary Sewal’s view, Indonesia itself have committed great efforts for transparency and accountability throughout its public live, ranging from monitoring governmental bodies to standing up for the Commission for Corruption Eradication (KPK) against certain interests.

“Indonesia is lucky to have reliable civil societies for anti-corruption, such as ICW, Setara Institute, etc. Our democracy needs strong civil societies to build inclusive and transparent society,” said Sewall who delivered her speech to mark International Anti-Corruption Day on Wednesday (9/12).

In this academic speech, Sewall also covered the development of Indonesian-US democracy as well as its link with civil security, including prevention and anticipation against violence by radical groups, improving accountability, human rights, and the freedom of religion. In her opinion, democracy does not justify discrimination against citizens. Every civil society should actively guard democratic principles. One of democracy’s prominent features is not prioritizing the majority, but to balance out the majority’s characters against human rights principles within society.

“Principles of democracy are embodied in applied laws. To prevent violence and extremism among society, we need an equal and just law. However, it is not only about having laws. The prime issue is to enforce the law in an equitable manner, apart from every stakeholder’s integrity,” concluded Sewall.