The statement of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on 12 gross human rights violations from the past seems to be an initial step to break the deadlock so far. Its follow-up is being awaited.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo received the recommendations from the Team for the Non-Judicial Settlement of Past Gross Human Rights Violations from the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Mahfud MD, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (11/1/2023).
As reported by Kompas, on Thursday (12/1/2023), President Jokowi as head of state acknowledged and regretted the gross human rights violations involving 12 incidents of the past. The President also stated that the rehabilitation of the rights of victims in a fair and judicious manner would be strived for without negating judicial resolution.
The 12 violations were the 1965-1966 incident; the Petrus killings (mysterious shootings) of 1982-1985; Talangsari, Lampung, 1989; Rumoh Geudong and Pos Sattis, Special Region of Aceh, 1989; the forced disappearance of people, 1997-1998; the May 1998 riot; Trisakti and Semanggi I-II, 1998-1999; the killing of dukun (shamans), 1998-1999; Simpang KKA, Special Region of Aceh, 1999; Wasior, Papua, 2001-2002; Wamena, Papua, 2003; and Jambo Keupok, Special Region of Aceh, 2003.
So far, serious rights violation cases of the past have been like a thorn in the flesh. A lot of discourses, studies and time have been wasted to discuss their settlement. However, no optimum results have been obtained. Settlement attempts by the judicial path seem to have met with an impasse. This can be noticed in the trials of cases of Timor Leste 1999, Tanjung Priok 1984, Abepura 2000 and Paniai 2014. All the defendants in the four cases were acquitted.
The same thing happened in the effort to reach a non-judicial settlement, especially after Law No.27/2004 on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was canceled by the Constitutional Court.
BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo press conference together with the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Mahfud MD, conveying the results of recommendations from the Team for the Resolution of Non-Judicial Past Gross Human Rights Violations, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (11/1/2023).
Consequently, the various rights violation cases so far have mostly become political commodities. Their issues have almost always emerged during general elections in order to win voters.
Nevertheless, the victims and families of victims of rights violations every Thursday afternoon continue to stand in front of the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, to demand justice. This activism begun on 18 January 2007 is now also facing the challenge of other issues like corruption, recession threat and the struggle for political positions that draw greater public attention.
Under such circumstances, the President’s statement on the 12 rights violations of the past is expected not to only serve as a political statement. But it should really become an initial step to thoroughly resolve the cases and pull out the thorn of the rights violation cases from the flesh of the reform era.
For its realization, several rights of the victims of rights violations should be fulfilled. They are the right to be informed, the right to justice and the right to reparation as well as the guarantee that the cases will not recur in the future.
The almost 25-year reform era has shown the rough track leading to the fulfillment of the victims’ rights. Yet the seriousness and success of the government of President Jokowi in fulfilling the rights will become a highly valuable legacy of the nation and serve as capital to step further forward to the future.
