Human Rights Cases a Historical Burden
Aside from leading to impunity, the situation also means Indonesia has no experience in resolving human rights violations. Eventually, its vision for human rights becomes difficult to develop so that it is prone to abuse.
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Sumarsih, whose son Wawan was one of the victims of the Semanggi 1 tragedy, joins the 500th Aksi Kamisan on July 27, 2017 at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Hundreds of human rights activists participated in the 500th Aksi Kamisan --the weekly Thursday rallies that have been held since 2007– was themed "Sweet Empty Promises" and demanded the government to settle past human rights violations.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The delayed settlement of human rights cases has become a historical burden to Indonesian nation. Aside from leading to impunity, the situation also means Indonesia has no experience in resolving human rights violations. Eventually, its vision for human rights becomes difficult to develop so that it is prone to abuse.
The subject of alleged past human rights violations always reemerges during the commemoration of the Reform movement. Three alleged gross human rights violation occurred during the transition from the New Order to the Reform Era that are as yet unsettled. These cases are the May 1998 riots, the disappearance of activists in 1997-1998 and the shooting of activists during the Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II protests. So far, the House of Representatives, the Attorney General’s Office and the government are waiting on each other to settle these cases.