Kontras: Lessons to learn in victory of Rawagede victims

RawagedeRights activists have lauded the Dutch Civil Court ruling in favor of victims of the 1947 massacre in Rawagede village, east of Jakarta, finding the Dutch government guilty and ordering it to pay compensation to the victims' families.

The activists said the ruling was an important lesson for the future struggles for compensation by victims of violence and their families.

“The ruling [...] carries several important lessons,” Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar says in a press statement sent to The Jakarta Post.

Among these, one of the lessons to learn was that human rights violations have no expiry date, even if they occurred long ago.

"The Dutch Court has recognized that severe human rights violations don't expire for as long as justice for victims has not been fulfilled," Haris said.

In 2005, eleven widows of Rawagede victims filed a lawsuit against the Dutch government at the Dutch Civil Court in the Hague. The legal process continued until Sept. 14 this year when the court found the Dutch government guilty.

In a landmark ruling, the court said it was “unreasonable” for the Dutch government to argue that the statute of limitations had expired for the 1947 massacre, and ordered that damages be paid to the seven surviving widows.

Earlier on Thursday, presidential staff Teuku Faizasyah said the government would follow up on the ruling and monitor its progress.(rpt)