We are not Alone, so We are Strong

Families of the victims refuse to forget about the incident that has caused them to lose their loved ones. The winding road to seek justice is really tiring. However, the flames of conviction have kept them going.

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Maria Catarina Sumarsih shows a file of cassation memory against the Attorney General which is being submitted to the Supreme Court, Wednesday (5/5/2021). Sumarsih is the mother of Bernardus Realino Norma Irawan or Wawan, a student at the Atmajaya University Jakarta who was shot dead during the Semanggi I tragedy, November 13, 1998.

It has been 23 years in Maria Catarina Sumarsih’s, 69, fight for justice. Her eldest son, Bernardus Realino Norma Irawan or Wawan, was shot dead during the Semanggi I tragedy, Nov. 13, 1998. The emotional pain over the loss of her son, who was then a student at Atma Jaya University, Jakarta, has turned into persistence in fighting for justice even though the journey is winding, steep and very tiring.

Since 2007, she has participated in the Kamisan action with families of other victims of the gross human rights violations, as well as people who care about human rights issues. The Kamisan silent protest has been carried out more than 600 times.