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Jokowi, human rights and the US
When President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo meets with US President Barack Obama this week in Washington, DC, the two âpeopleâs presidentsâ might talk about all they have in common, including loving to eat bakso (meatball)
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When President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo meets with US President Barack Obama this week in Washington, DC, the two 'people's presidents' might talk about all they have in common, including loving to eat bakso (meatball).
Both were elected to bring about more social justice and equality to countries where the gap between rich and poor is widening and the suffering of common people is worsening. Both are under pressure from nationalist conservatives promoting discrimination and xenophobia for opportunistic political purposes.
In the US, Obama is faced by conservatives who are creating discord with anti-Muslim and racist rhetoric. In Indonesia, powerful elites who want Indonesia to return to Suharto era authoritarianism are gaining ground.
I first met Jokowi in 2007 when he was mayor of Solo, and recognized that he was a new type of leader ' honest, effective and compassionate. His transformation of Solo into a vibrant, caring city catapulted him to president. A year ago, I celebrated his election amid hundreds of thousands of ecstatic Indonesians at the National Monument, believing that his 'mental revolution' platform would transform Indonesia's corrupt, venal rule into a fair society.
During his campaign, Jokowi promised to prioritize investigation and reconciliation of past human rights abuses. On the first anniversary of his presidency, Indonesian human rights defenders are dismayed. The respected human rights NGO KontraS stated last week that Jokowi had taken no concrete steps in pursuing past human rights abuses. Meanwhile, he has appointed to senior positions current and former generals, some of whom human rights groups allege have a record of human rights abuses and whose reactionary rhetoric is ominous for continued democratic reform.
KontraS concluded that the Jokowi government is heading towards a deteriorating human rights environment. Human rights activists conclude that the issue of human rights was never high on Jokowi's agenda but rather he prioritizes quick fixes for the economy and infrastructure. Some believe he is relying on tough generals to efficiently address problems and bolster his political strength against powerful enemies. Many say he is listening too much to politicians and not enough to the people.
According to KontraS, the list of human rights setbacks this year is long, including rising religious discrimination and attacks on churches, regressing backwards on security sector reform, torture (mainly by police), unjust application of the death penalty and unwarranted police violence against demonstrators, such as the teenagers who were killed in Papua for peacefully demonstrating.
Another chilling human rights transgression is attack on freedom of expression, the pillar that upholds Indonesia's democratic reform process. A controversy rages over police suppression of activities related to the massacre of 500,000 people in 1965, known as G30S. As one respected scholar explained, the G30S bloodletting was directed almost entirely against innocent citizens across Indonesia in a sadistic fashion, by Muslim youth gangs and militia backed by the army.
As with all past (and current) human rights violations in Indonesia, there is no justice and probably never will be. All that is ever sought by the people is truth and reconciliation, a simple apology.
Instead, police are attacking those who would simply discuss 1965, shutting down such discussions in universities and at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), where authors were to discuss several excellent books on this topic and where Joshua Oppenheimer's acclaimed films were to be screened. This suppression is ostensibly out of concern of a threat of communism.
However, these actions are harmful to Indonesia in far reaching ways that I hope Jokowi can understand.
Truth and reconciliation is needed for national healing. Furthermore, the world simply cannot forgive and forget such horrible atrocities. Also, the type of atrocities that occurred in 1965 has been repeated often since (Tanjung Priok, East Timor, May 1998 riots, etc.) and even after democracy. For example, human rights champion, Munir, was assassinated in 2004 in a case where justice might never be found. Truth and reconciliation, if not accountability, is needed to prevent such crimes in the future.
Finally, as Jokowi seeks to bring home nearly US$20 billion in US investment during this week's visit, human rights violations such as suppression of freedom of speech are horrible for the Indonesian economy. The UWRF is a type of event that raises Indonesia's positive profile, attracting tourists and investors.
Moreover, investors do not want to come to a country where rule of law is not respected. Now is the time for Jokowi to tout Indonesia as a tolerant, free democracy, not deal with messy distractions.
The current climate reminds me a little of when I first set foot in Indonesia in 1986. Soeharto was bringing paved roads and electricity to every village. However, this rising prosperity masked his brutal treatment of his people and everyone was afraid to voice dissent.
I am not implying that Indonesia will revert to Soeharto era oppression. Indonesian freedom, tolerance and democracy are too big to fail. However, as one prominent Indonesian journalist stated this week, 'We are already suffocating.'
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The writer is former US diplomat who has lived in Indonesia for the better part of the past 30 years. His new book, 'Like the Moon and the Sun', is being featured at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali this week.
