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Jokowi urged to meet victims to gain empathy, courage to resolve past abuses
This year marks 10th anniversary of the first Kamisan, a silent protest by victims of gross past human rights violations held every Thursday across from the Presidential Palace. The action calls on the government to end the impunity of perpetrators, but so far has never met directly with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
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A nun observes photographs of victims of past human rights abuses in front of the State Palace during a weekly rally, locally known as Kamisan, in a recent photo. (JP/Seto Wardhana )
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his year marks 10th anniversary of the first Kamisan, a silent protest by victims of gross past human rights violations held every Thursday across from the Presidential Palace. The action calls on the government to end the impunity of perpetrators, but so far has never met directly with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Meeting survivors and their relatives in person will build the courage required to make the political commitment to end ongoing abuses, says Sanata Dharma University lecturer Mutiara Andalas, adding that the government currently lacks this courage and political will.
“An encounter with survivors could be a source of political courage for a regime to accept that a state can make mistakes,” Andalas told a discussion in Jakarta on Wednesday.
(Read also: Lack of applicable solutions hampers Jokowi’s efforts to resolve past abuses: Official)
Andalas, a Jesuit priest, explained that survivors as well as their relatives were also humans who the government needed not be afraid of, saying that Jokowi’s personal encounter with them instead would give him more support to fulfill his promise to resolve abuses.
Tomorrow’s Kamisan will be the 477th. Survivors have met representatives of the Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP) as well as other government officials, but have yet to meet Jokowi. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also never met Kamisan members during his 10 years in power.
