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Victims estimate survivors affected by 1965 massacre around 26 million
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Open discussion: Former Indonesian president BJ Habibie (right) and philosopher and Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno (left) convey their views on the 1965 tragic event at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany in October 2015. (The Jakarta Post/Yuliasri Perdani)
D
espite denials from the military, victims of the 1965 massacre have reaffirmed that the number of people killed in the tragedy could reach as many as 3 million, and the total number of those affected by it might reach 26 million people.
"If we count the affected survivors, the number could reach 26 million," said Bedjo Untung, the head of the Murder Victims Research Foundation (YPKP) 1965/1966, during the national symposium on the 1965 tragedy in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan earlier dismissed the estimation released by the victims. Sintong Panjaitan, a retired special forces general, claimed recently that the number was closer to around 80,000 people.
According to a study compiled by a victims group, there are plenty of mass graves located in Java, Sumatra and Bali, including seven mass graves in Pati, and five in Pemalang, both in Central Java.
"So it's impossible that the number is only 80,000 people," Bedjo said.
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has launched an investigation into the case, but its recommendations have never been followed up by the Attorney General's Office (AGO).
Komnas HAM and the Presidential Advisory Board (Wantimpres) held a national symposium on April 18-19 in Jakarta to discuss the 1965 tragedy and to offer further recommendations to the government. The symposium involved academics, human rights activists, victims, politicians and representatives from several government bodies.
It is unlikely that the whole truth behind the tragedy of 1965, and the convulsions that triggered it, will be uncovered, as the majority of those involved have already passed away and some sections of the declassified documents were blacked-out prior to their release. It will take two to three generations to free this country from the impact of 1965. (vps/dan)
