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Govt extends deadline, aims to settle past rights abuse cases by year-end
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Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan speaks to journalists at his office on Wednesday, May 18. (JP/Viriya Paramita Singgih)
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mid mounting criticism, the government has extended its deadline to resolve past human rights cases to the end of the year, citing case complexities. The original target had been set for May.
The government will push for the settlement of six serious past human rights abuse cases by the end of this year, Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Wednesday.
“It is [the original deadline] obviously impossible, having seen the complexity [of the cases]. I will do everything to resolve [these cases] by the end of this year,” he told journalists at his office, commenting on the elapse of the initial May 2. deadline.
Luhut previously said that the government would settle at least six past rights abuse cases; the 1965 communist purge; the 1989 Talangsari incident in Central Lampung; the 2001 and 2003 Wamena and Wasior incidents in Papua; various kidnappings and unresolved shootings that took place in the 1980s, including the May 1998 riots and the disappearance of several prominent activists.
The commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Dianto Bachriadi, said that revealing the truth was likely to require more time, suggesting it would be impossible to resolve all six cases within just one year.
Activists also slammed the allocated investigation time frame and deadline, pushing for a judicial process to bring about justice.
Recently, the government has been seen to focus on the 1965 tragedy, believed to have resulted in the deaths of at least 500,000 people suspected to have links to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The government held a two-day National Symposium on the 1965 tragedy in April that brought together government officials, survivors, families of victims, former military officers, academics and human rights activists.
The National Symposium team finalized their recommendation and submitted it to government on Wednesday. Refusing to provide further details, Symposium chairman Agus Widjojo said the recommendation involved a non-judicial process in accordance with the Human Rights Tribunals Law.
Luhut said he will study the recommendation plans to offer a response on Friday.
Luhut asserted that the government would not include an apology to the victims as part of the 1965 massacre settlement.
"The most important goal is international recognition for resolving the 1965 case. In this way, it will no longer be a burden, especially for future generations," Luhut said, adding that the government was currently in the process of verifying the mass graves reported to the government by Members of the 1965 Murder Victims' Research Foundation (YPKP 65). (vps/rin)
