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Presidential candidates’ human rights manifestos ‘unconvincing’
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Portraits of injustice: Members of the Victims Solidarity Network for Justice (JSKK) display the pictures of victims of past human rights violations during a rally outside the State Palace on Sept. 14, 2023. It was the 787th edition of the protest, which is held every Thursday. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
Two presidential candidates have expressed their intention to resolve past cases of gross human rights violations and all three have vowed to uphold human rights, but activists say the promises are too abstract and unconvincing.
Opposition figurehead Anies Baswedan and running mate Muhaimin Iskandar said in their election manifesto that they would seek “to resolve past rights abuse cases” and provide compensation and social reparations for the victims.
This means that the pair will only focus on settling the cases through nonjudicial means, rather than bringing any perpetrators to court, Hermawi Taslim, secretary-general of the NasDem Party, which is part of the three-way alliance supporting the pair, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
This policy is similar to the nonjudicial settlement program launched in June by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after he expressed regret earlier this year on behalf of the state for the country’s past gross rights violations and recognized 12 such cases that occurred between 1965 and 2003.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, who leads the government team for Jokowi’s nonjudicial settlement plan, is running for vice president alongside presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo next year.
Read also: Government prepares reparations for victims as Jokowi regrets past atrocities
Ganjar and Mahfud said in their campaign document that they intended to “fairly resolve past rights violations that have weighed on the country for years”.
