T

he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has submitted a '€œnegative list'€ of individuals implicated in past human rights abuses to president-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, to prevent them from assuming public office.

On the list, Komnas HAM compiled the names of 174 people, including some prominent individuals who had access to or were expected to join the Jokowi administration.

The individuals include losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto; former vice president Tri Sutrisno; former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. (ret.) A.M Hendropriyono; former BIN deputy chief Maj. Gen (ret.) Muchdi Purwoprandjono; former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto; former Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen (ret.) Sutiyoso; Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin; State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and former National Police chief Timur Pradopo.

'€œThe political situation has allowed these individuals, who are implicated in human rights violations, to gain power in this country due to the lack of legal process in resolving past rights abuses,'€ said Roichatul Aswidah, the leader of the Komnas HAM team tasked with handling past rights abuses.

Roichatul said that if they were given access to public office, the individuals could once again block legal processes that were being taken forward against them.

'€œBy being at the center of power, such individuals could use their influence to block the [legal] process that has been long overdue. Thus, the list aims to provide recommendations to Pak Jokowi and Pak JK [Jusuf Kalla] on the people who must not be involved in their Cabinet so that the new administration can set up a clean government,'€
she said.

According to Komnas HAM, Prabowo, Wiranto, Sutiyoso, Sjafrie, Muchdi and Sudi are allegedly responsible for 1998 May Riots as well as the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists during the riots.

Wiranto and Timur were also said to be allegedly responsible for the Trisakti University shootings as well as the Semanggi I and Semanggi II student shootings.

Meanwhile, Try Sutrisno and Hendropriyono were being targeted for their alleged roles in the 1989 Talangsari tragedy in Lampung, during which TNI soldiers raided the homes of villagers following allegations that the residents were attempting to set up an Islamic state. Twenty seven local residents died in the raid.

The development marks the first time that Komnas HAM has officially published such a list.

The rights body had prepared a similar list for the July 9 presidential election but declined to make it public over concerns it could be politicized.

However, the commission decided to go public the list after learning that some of the individuals on it may secure positions in the Jokowi-Kalla Cabinet.

Komnas HAM submitted the list to Jokowi'€™s transition team late last week.

The transition team has been under fire for appointing Hendropriyono as one of its advisors.

Jokowi'€™s campaign promise to solve past human rights abuses has been overshadowed by the roles played by Hendropriyono, Hanura Party chairman Wiranto and Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) chairman Sutiyoso. Hanura and the PKPI officially backed Jokowi'€™s candidacy in the recent presidential election.

President-elect Jokowi is expected to announce his Cabinet on Sept. 15.

Hendropriyono earlier told The Jakarta Post that he could guarantee he would decline an offer to be in Jokowi'€™s Cabinet.

'€œRights activists don'€™t need to worry,'€ he said. '€œI won'€™t be in Jokowi'€™s Cabinet.'€