Kompas - March 20, 2010
It’s Thursday afternoon,
March 18, and dozens of family members of victims of human rights violations are
holding another “Kamisan” (Thursday Action), a silent protest in which they
hold black umbrellas with the names of human rights cases written on them.
They stand in silence in
front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta. “The Thursday actions have been
held since January 18, 2007. For 152 weeks now,” said Sumarsih, the mother of
Wawan, a student who was shot dead in November 1998 in front of the Atma Jaya
University in Jakarta.
These ongoing protests by
families of human rights victims are like the actions of “crazy people”. They
continue to faithfully endeavour to shed light on the mysteries behind cases of
violence and fight for a resolution to cases of human rights violations.
There is a strength that
makes them faithfully struggle in silence to promote truth and justice. This
strength has a mystical dimension. “I do indeed still remember and feel the
presence of my child who was shot”, said Sumarsih.
Efforts to uncover the
mystery behind this violence and seek the truth also continue to be pursued by
the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras). Since
being established on March 20, 1998, Kontras has constantly carried out
advocacy for activists, members of the public who have suffered state violence
or the families of victims of violence during the New Order regime of former
President Suharto.
Turning 12 years old on
March 20, 2010, Kontras remains consistent in advocating for the victims of
human rights violations, seeking a resolution to cases of human rights
violations, and new cases of violence that emerge. Why is it necessary for
cases of human rights violations to be resolved and not left hidden?
“Cases of gross human
rights violations, such as abductions, the Semanggi case, and Munir’s murder,
cannot be just considered as the cost of political reform. What happened in the
past, being left in the past. Cases of human rights violations cannot just be
neglected like that,” said Kontras Coordinator Usman Hamid.
And behind the cases of
violence and human rights violations that have occurred, lie many mysteries
that are yet to be exposed, such as the case of the abduction of activists in
1997-1998. After 12 years, according to Kontras’ records, 13 of these people
are still missing. They are Sonny, Yani Afri, M Yusuf, Ismail, Dedi Hamdun,
Noval Said Alkatiri, Wiji Thukul, Suyat, Herman Hendrawan, Bimo Petrus
Anugerah, Ucok Munandar Siahaan, Yadin Muhidin and Hendra Hambali.
It was for this reason that
the previous House of Representatives recommended the establishment of an ad
hoc human rights court. The government was also called on to seek information
on the fate of the 13, in accordance with the recommendations of the National
Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). But, the formation of a human rights
court has simply marked time. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to
issue a presidential decree on its formation.
Mystery
The families of the missing
people on the other hand, continue to demand that the mystery be exposed.
Indeed in the lead up to its 12 anniversary, Kontras has in fact found a key
witness who can recount the story of the activists’ abduction. “After 12 years
have passed, there is a witness that knows about the case of the activists’
abduction,” said Hamid.
Uncovering the mystery
behind cases of human rights violations is indeed not just related to the
1997-1998 abductions. The Munir murder case is still a mystery. “Cases of
premeditated murder committed by civilians are sometimes hard to bring to
light, let alone cases of premeditated murder that are suspected to have been
committed by intelligence personnel,” said the Deputy Executive Director of
Indonesia’s Non-Government Organisation Coalition for International Human
Rights Advocacy (Koalisi LSM), Choirul Anam.
The uncovering of and
resolution of the Munir murder case however has also been obstructed. The law
has yet to touch the actors that are suspected of taking part in planning the
murder. A great deal of mystery still surrounds the death of Munir, the figure
who pioneered the formation of Kontras.
The wait for a resolution
to cases of human rights violations will indeed be a long one. But Kontras
continues to handle case of violence, such as violence in legal cases and land
disputes between communities and the Indonesian military (TNI).
Take the recent case of Aan
Susandhi (30) for example. Susandhi claims to have been mistreated by an
individual from a fishing company right in front of police officers until he
collapsed coughing blood. Susandhi has already reported the alleged
mistreatment along with medical evidence to the Metro Jaya regional police.
Kontras and Susandhi’s lawyer meanwhile have reported the alleged neglect by
the police officers to the national police’s Division for Professionalism and
Security. (FER)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
