Amir Syamsuddin
Encyclopedia
Amir Syamsuddin is the current Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia.
, Dutch East Indies
, on 27 May 1941 to Nazaruddin Dg Mamaggung and Andi Bulaeng Dg Nipati. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Indonesia
in 1983, later earning a doctorate from the same university.
In 1983 Amir founded Amir Syamsuddin Law Offices and Partners. He later founded Acemark, an intellectual property firm.
In 2003 Amir represented former Golkar
chairman and Speaker of the People's Representative Council
Akbar Tanjung
when he was charged with corruption. Tanjung was eventually acquitted by the Supreme Court of Indonesia. He also represented the magazine Tempo when it was sued by Probosutedjo
. By 2011 Amir was serving as secretary of the Democratic Party
's ethics council.
On 19 October 2011, Amir, then serving on the board of advisers to the Democratic Party, was selected as Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia, ceasing his legal practice. He replaced Patrialis Akbar
amidst rumours of corruption in the justice system; Patrialis welcomed the appointment. Following his appointment, Amir stated that he intended to end the practice of giving convicted corruptors and terrorists cuts to their sentences.
welcomed Amir's appointment, saying that he had "made a good first impression"; however, Masduki cautioned that Syamsuddin would have to follow through on his promises. The Jakarta Post reported the former Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra
as "warning" that ending sentence cuts for corruptors and terrorists "might violate human rights and the principle of equal treatment for prisoners".
Biography
Amir was born in MakassarMakassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
, Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, on 27 May 1941 to Nazaruddin Dg Mamaggung and Andi Bulaeng Dg Nipati. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
in 1983, later earning a doctorate from the same university.
In 1983 Amir founded Amir Syamsuddin Law Offices and Partners. He later founded Acemark, an intellectual property firm.
In 2003 Amir represented former Golkar
Golkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
chairman and Speaker of the People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
Akbar Tanjung
Akbar Tanjung
Akbar Tanjung is an Indonesian politician who is a former chairman of Golkar party. He was the Speaker of the People's Representative Council from 1999 to 2004...
when he was charged with corruption. Tanjung was eventually acquitted by the Supreme Court of Indonesia. He also represented the magazine Tempo when it was sued by Probosutedjo
Probosutedjo
Probosutedjo is the younger half-brother of former Indonesian president Suharto. Probosutedjo was one of seven children from his mother's second marriage. ....
. By 2011 Amir was serving as secretary of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Indonesia)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Indonesia, was founded on 9 September 2001. Its ideology is based on the Indonesian concept of Pancasila.-Origins:...
's ethics council.
On 19 October 2011, Amir, then serving on the board of advisers to the Democratic Party, was selected as Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia, ceasing his legal practice. He replaced Patrialis Akbar
Patrialis Akbar
Patrialis Akbar is an Indonesian lawyer and politician from Padang, West Sumatra. He is part of the Second United Indonesia Cabinet and has served as Minister of Justice and Human Rights in Indonesia since October 22, 2009. He obtained a law degree from the Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta and...
amidst rumours of corruption in the justice system; Patrialis welcomed the appointment. Following his appointment, Amir stated that he intended to end the practice of giving convicted corruptors and terrorists cuts to their sentences.
Reception
Teten Masduki of Transparency International IndonesiaTransparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
welcomed Amir's appointment, saying that he had "made a good first impression"; however, Masduki cautioned that Syamsuddin would have to follow through on his promises. The Jakarta Post reported the former Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra
Yusril Ihza Mahendra
Yusril Ihza Mahendra is an Indonesian politician. Yusril was formerly the chairman of Crescent Star Party .-Early life:...
as "warning" that ending sentence cuts for corruptors and terrorists "might violate human rights and the principle of equal treatment for prisoners".