Human Rights Minister Responds to Jokowi Acknowledging Past Tragedies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly on Thursday commented on the government’s judicial settlement to past severe human rights violations, which is still adjourned amidst non-judicial settlements that are in progress after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo officially admitted severe human rights violations that marred Indonesia’s history. 

“That will depend on what pieces of evidence exist,” said Yasonna at the State Palace on January 12. 

On January 11, Jokowi admitted these violations in the past and claimed to have resolved 12 of them. Admitting to this is one of the recommendations issued by the non-judicial settlement team for past severe human rights violations (PPHAM team) to the President. 

“With a clear mind and a sincere heart, I as the leader of the Republic of Indonesia, admit that serious human rights violations have indeed happened in several incidents,” he said in a speech at the Jakarta State Palace, Wednesday, January 11.

During this event, the President asserted that the investigation of past cases must continue through judicial means despite the existence of the non-judicial settlement team. 

“I have sympathy and empathy for the victims and their families. So the government and I will restore the rights of the victims fairly and wisely without negating the judicial resolution,” Jokowi added.

Minister Yasonna added there are aspects that cannot be resolved through pro-Justicia. However, this does not mean that the government will not resolve them but that the government is currently preferring non-judicial resolutions. 

“Those who decided on this are incredibly credible people. I am sure that we, the government, are very much intending to resolve that,” Yasonna Laoly said. 

Members of the non-judicial settlement team for past severe human rights violations (PPHAM team) are Makarim Wibisono, Ifdal Kasim, Suparman Marzuki, Mustafa Abubakar, Rahayu, As ad Said Ali, retired lieutenant general Kiki Syahnarki, dan Komarudin Hidayat. 

The report was handed to the President and was also witnessed by Coordinating Minister for Law, Political, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md.

To date, the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has handled 12 past severe human rights violations which include mass murders in 1965, the systematic disappearance of people from 1997 to 1998, and the mass riots in May of 1998.

Other prominent incidents that are classified as severe human rights violations which are being resolved by Komnas HAM include the high-profile murder of activist Munir, the “witch hunt’ or killing of people accused of being black magic shamans from 1998 to 1999, and the shooting of protestors – who mostly are civilians and students – known as the Semanggi and Trisakti tragedies. 

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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