Komnas HAM Collects 162 Graves Data of 1965 Massacre Victims

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Human Rights Commission or Komnas HAM is still processing the report on the findings of 162 mass grave sites of 1965 massacre victims. “As far as I know, the data is still being collected, it is only still from one side and there are reports from other groups,” said Deputy Chairman of Komnas HAM's External Affairs, Sandrayati Moniaga, at Amnesty International office, Central Jakarta, Thursday, February 22.

Previously, as published in Koran Tempo, Chairman of Research Foundation for Victims of 1965 Massacre (YPKP 65), Bedjo Untung, visited Komnas HAM on January 22, to urge the settlement of the human rights cases including the report of the mass graves.

Read: YPKP 65: PKI was the victim of 1965 Massacre

Bedjo Untung urged Komnas HAM to verify the assessment of the location and the victims that were killed in the grave. At the mass grave, forensic testing can also be done on the framework of the remaining victims for subsequent transfer to a decent place.

Besides, the YPKP 65 also asked Komnas HAM to immediately form an investigation team to reveal the human rights violations occurred on the Buru Island, Maluku. The location allegedly stored a lot of data and complete evidence of the crimes against humanity.

Bedjo revealed that former President Soeharto once issued a letter as Commander of the Security and Order Restoration No. KEP 009/Kopkam/2/1969 which established Buru Island as a place of detention for people suspected to be communist.

M YUSUF MANURUNG