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Activist slams ministers for rebuffing 1965 massacre tribunal
People attend the International People's Tribunal 1965 which opened hearings intended to publicize allegations of mass killings 50 years ago by Indonesian authorities of hundreds of thousands of suspected Communists, at the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov
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People attend the International People's Tribunal 1965 which opened hearings intended to publicize allegations of mass killings 50 years ago by Indonesian authorities of hundreds of thousands of suspected Communists, at the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. The court has no formal legal powers, but aims to shed light on what organizers call the darkest days in Indonesiaâs post-colonial history and promote reconciliation by exposing the truth about the 1965 killings. (AP/Peter Dejong) (AP/Peter Dejong)
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span class="inline inline-center">People attend the International People's Tribunal 1965 which opened hearings intended to publicize allegations of mass killings 50 years ago by Indonesian authorities of hundreds of thousands of suspected Communists, at the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. The court has no formal legal powers, but aims to shed light on what organizers call the darkest days in Indonesia's post-colonial history and promote reconciliation by exposing the truth about the 1965 killings. (AP/Peter Dejong)
A human rights activist has criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's subordinates for rebuffing the people's tribunal on the 1965 mass killings and standing against the exposure of the truth.
Hendardi, the chairman of human right advocacy group Setara Institute, said on Wednesday that the statements made by Attorney General HM Prasetyo and Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacude showed poor judgment.
"Their statements really demonstrated [the approach] they both take, which is suppressing the truth," he said in a statement to thejakartapost.com.
"They are both the enemies of humanity because they don't take the side of the truth."
Prasetyo said on Tuesday that the government refused to acknowledge the International People's Tribunal 1965, held from Nov. 10 to 13 in The Hague, the Netherlands. He said that past human rights abuses were Indonesia's own problem that the government aimed to resolve other parties' involvement.
Ryamizard also criticized the Netherlands as the venue for the tribunal and urged everyone not to look back and refer to past human rights violations.
Human rights activists initiated the tribunal to help disclose the military action believed to have killed up to 1 million people in 1965 and 1966, orchestrated by the government.
Hendardi also said that domestic and foreign initiatives to bring the truth to light would keep coming if the government was reluctant to do so itself.
"Human rights violations are a universal concern. Don't be so narrow minded ' refusing to resolve the issues and getting annoyed when others try to reveal the truth," he said.
He also urged President Jokowi to use the momentum for a second cabinet reshuffle, which has been rising over the past month, to dismiss ministers that hampered the realization of his promises and visions.
Hendardi pointed out Prasetyo's lack of achievements or breakthroughs during his term so far and highlighted allegations made against Prasetyo's fellow NasDem Party politician Patrice Rio Capella, a bribery suspect.
He also slammed Ryamizard, who he considers to be staunchly opposed to military reform.
According to the official website of the International People's Tribunal 1965, 1965tribunal.org, the tribunal is not a criminal court and its findings are not legally binding.
The tribunal hopes, however, that its outcomes can lead to better government policies around resolving the issue.
"It will help push the state to [show accountability to] victims and their families, and to the Indonesian society as a whole," the tribunal website states.(rin)(+)
