Indonesia acknowledges past human rights violations

January 30, 2023                                                                                         Roberta Amoriello

South East Asia and Pacific

Researcher

Indonesia acknowledges past human rights violations

For the second time in history, an Indonesian president has acknowledged past human rights violations in the country, explicitly committing to avoid any repetition in the future. On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, President Joko Widodo, referring to “gross human rights violations” in the country, cited twelve “regrettable events”, including the mass killings of 1965-66. Before him, the only governor to admit the bloodshed was Abdurrahman Wahid, with a public apology in 2000.

In the massacre, also known as the Indonesian genocide, 500.000 people were killed. It took place after a controversial attempted coup d’etat by a communist movement, where six generals were allegedly killed. However, this is not the only event cited by Widodo, who, after receiving a report from a team he commissioned to investigate the country’s bloody past, listed several other human rights incidents spanning a period between 1965 and 2003. The violations included the abduction in the late 1990s of democratic activists during protests against former leader Suharto's presidency, human rights violations in the region of Papua, as well as during an insurgency in the province of Aceh. 

President Widodo said that the government would seek to restore the rights of victims "fairly and wisely without negating judicial resolution" but he did not specify how this would be done. "I will endeavour wholeheartedly to ensure gross human rights violations never happen again in the future," he added.

The recognition of the country’s obscure past undoubtedly represents a step forward in a geographic region with, unfortunately, very low standards in terms of human rights. It was welcomed by many, however, rights activists have not held back from expressing their doubts, stating that, despite his admission, the president failed to effectively address the government's responsibility and to really provide accountability.

According to Amnesty International's Indonesia executive director, Usman Hamid,  "Mere recognition without trying to bring to justice those responsible for past human rights violations will only add salt to the wounds of the victims and their families.” “Simply put, the president's statement is meaningless without accountability", he added.

References:

NG K. (January 11, 2023) Jokowi acknowledges Indonesia's past human rights violations. BBC News. Retrieved on January 30, 2023 from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64245668 

Teresia A.,  Widianto S. (January 11, 2023) Jokowi regrets Indonesia's bloody past, victims want accountability. Reuters. Retrieved on January 30, 2023 from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-president-says-strongly-regrets-past-rights-violations-country-2023-01-11/