18 Years of Kamisan Action: A Reminder of Human Rights Violations in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A researcher at the Center for Law and Social Justice Studies (LSJ) of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and a member of the Collective for Critical Legal Studies (Colleges), Markus Togar Wijaya, believes that enforcement in Indonesia under the Prabowo Subianto government is merely rhetorical.

On his first day as Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra issued a statement denying the occurrence of gross human rights violations in 1998.

“This statement shows Yusril's reluctance to read scientific literature highlighting gross human rights violations in Indonesia. In fact, a lot of national and international research document how power structures systematically silence, undermine, and extinguish human rights,” said Markus Togar.

He opined that Yusril's statement reflects a complete lack of commitment from to address past human rights abuses. This signals Indonesia's descent into a "dark age" for human rights.

This "dark age" is characterized by the emergence of chaotic, unscientific reasoning, exemplified by Yusril's statement. Scientific evidence is marginalized and disregarded in the policy-making process.

“The peak of this condition is that the world is trapped in darkness and ends in public stupidity. This is because most officials only understand human rights as stated in the Constitution. However, the true meaning of human rights is far more profound. Upholding human rights is not only fulfilling the needs of citizens but also recognizing and respecting every human being,” explained Markus.

The impunity enjoyed by human rights violators continues to grow. According to Markus, these individuals remain "above the law" and beyond accountability. He questioned the lack of focus on this issue by Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai. “Has he forgotten the years of steadfast protests by the in front of the presidential palace, demanding justice for human rights victims?”

Markus attributes this inaction to the Ministry's subservience to a "master" with no vision of upholding human rights. He drew a parallel to President Jokowi's administration, where ministerial visions and missions are often overshadowed by the president and vice president's agenda.

“In the context of enforcing human rights, citizens are treated as mere objects, devoid of agency in the human rights discourse. The Ministry of Human Rights will not dare to involve citizens as active participants because it is vulnerable to eroding the political standing of their 'masters',” he stated.

A Glimmer of Hope for Community Movements

Markus mentioned that human rights advocate and activist, Yap Thiam Hien, came up with the concept of "Civil Death". This is a condition where individuals are stripped of their legal and human rights, treated as outcasts, and denied a voice.

Yap's statement aligns with the current chaotic state of human rights in Indonesia. However, Markus emphasized that in the midst of this condition, people should place hope in civil society movements that will continue to be elements of control over the increasingly banal state.

The Kamisan Action, one of the driving forces of the human rights movement, marks its 18th anniversary today, January 16, 2025. This movement has gained prominence as it was conducted during an era of the regime that was considered a human rights violator. While the years have passed, the spirit of the Kamisan Action remains undiminished.

“This spirit has not diminished and even continues to burn brightly fueled by the desire to seek justice for the lost. As citizens, it is our duty to nurture this flame, passing it on to future generations, and ensuring its resilience amid the chaos of this predatory regime,” concluded Markus.

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