Oct. 1, Online

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto has rejected the findings by the National Commission on Human Rights’ (Komnas HAM) investigative team that the 1965 purge was a gross human rights violation.

“Define gross human rights violation! Against whom?

What if it happened the other way around?” Djoko said on the sidelines of a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee on Monday.

Your comments:

No shame, no brain and no compassion. I bet he prays regularly, thinks of himself as a religious man.

Duncan

Our film, 40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy, explores the impact of the 1965 mass killings.

Perhaps Pak Djoko should watch the film, then maybe he could understand the experiences of these families and reflect how enormously destructive the killings and the aftermath was, not only for these families, but for Indonesian civil society as well.

Robert Lemelson

So, it’s OK to kidnap, torture and kill (innocent) people just because you have “evidence” of someone else’s wrongdoings, under the pretext of “saving the country”.

I guess the minister doesn’t mind the wonderful efforts made by terrorists here all trying to “save” Indonesia — I mean, that’s what their propaganda says!

Many of those killed in the “purge” probably died for no reason other than their neighbor or business rival not liking them, influencing them to report their enemies as communists.

John

I agree with most of comments on this article.

I hope that one day, the vast majority of Indonesians will feel some shame for the crimes against humanity committed in their country’s name around 1965, and in Timor Leste and West Papua during the time when the Indonesian Army was responsible for “security” there.

Ronen Skaletzky

Popular

'Kebaya': Living history, modern elegance

Home Ministry wants to evaluate CFD because it often turns into pop-up markets

Govt gives Danantara legal shield for loss-cutting decisions