"One of the consequences is an increase in crimes."
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has committed itself to fighting international crime, especially organized crime, with a number of laws and conventions it has developed in cooperation with other countries, Vice President Boediono said.

"Globalisation has brought much benefit to people in various countries in the world, but it has also created new risks and big consequences. One of the consequences is an increase in crimes," he stated here on Monday, when opening an international conference on witness and crime victims` protection, which was attended by 100 participants from 30 countries.

Boediono said Indonesia, as a member of the world community that cared about the issue, had proved its commitment to fighting global crime by signing a number of international conventions.

Indonesia, he added, had a number of laws that adopted or were in line with the standards and norms regulated in the conventions.

Indonesia has committed itself to at least five conventions: the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the United Nations Convention Against on Illicit Traffic on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the United Nations on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

The country has taken an active part in international forums such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the Commission on Crime and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), and Conference of Parties on UNTOC.

Boediono noted Indonesia was also involved with working groups such as the United Nations Conventioinal on Transnational Organized Crime, Conference of State Parties of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, International Working Group on Prevention of Corruption, and International Working Group on Asset Recovery.

He said the nation`s participation in various international forums improved its law enforcement capabilities.

"However, I have to admit, the potential benefits of such cooperation have not been fully exploited in the country`s interests in the international arena, as well as for promoting law enforcement performance within the country," Boediono added.

"Several offices are leveraging Indonesia's international cooperation with foreign countries, but many others are still lagging behind," he noted.

Boediono explained there were several factors that prevented organisations from fully exploiting the benefits from such cooperation. "To me one of the factors is our unpreparedness to use the opportunities," he said.

"To me the key is in making efforts to build the capacity of all the offices that have participated in the cooperation agreements that we have signed," the vice president stated.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012