I have suffered greatly. My legs are paralyzed, and I am often in pain. It is difficult for me to walk. What saddens me is that there are still toxic bullet fragments inside my body. All this time, I have been breastfeeding my children with my poisoned blood. – Rosmiati, a victim of the Simpang Kertas Kraft Tragedy in Aceh, 1999[1].

Aceh is a province in Indonesia that has long been associated with state-sponsored violence. Acts of violence in Aceh began in the 1950s, starting with the DI/TII period (1953–1963), followed by violence resulting from political conflict from 1965 to 1970, the implementation of the pre-DOM (Military Operations Area) (1976–1989), and the implementation of the DOM (1989–1998). In 1998, the reform movement in Indonesia also had an impact on Aceh. On August 7, 1998, Aceh’s status as a DOM was officially revoked. General Wiranto, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs—who at the time served as the supreme commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI)—also withdrew non-organic troops from the “Veranda of Mecca.”

Rosmiati is not the only victim of violence and human rights violations in Aceh. In the 1990s, when Aceh was designated a Military Operation Area (DOM), Muhammad Yusuf, a resident of Keude Tambue, Simpang Mamplam Subdistrict, Bireuen Regency, also fell victim to military violence. Yusuf recounted that at the time, he and several of his friends were arrested and taken to a military post. There, the soldiers questioned them about the whereabouts of members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Instead of being released, Yusuf and his friends—who knew nothing about the separatists’ whereabouts—were subjected to torture. “I was ordered to lie face down on the ground with my friends, and then the soldiers stomped on each of our backs. Then I was forced to fight with the other captured victims until I lost consciousness,” said Yusuf[2].

In 2006–2007, the Aceh Coalition for Truth (KPK) helped empower victims of past human rights violations and their families throughout Aceh. Then in 2009, the Aceh KPK drafted the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) Bill, spearheaded by the Banda Aceh Legal Aid Institute (LBH). The establishment of this commission was mandated by Law No. 11 of 2006 on the Government of Aceh.

It was not until 2013 that the Aceh Provincial Government enacted the draft regulation as Law No. 17 of 2013 on the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR Aceh). The enactment of this law marked the establishment of the KKR Aceh, and in October 2016, seven commissioners were appointed. However, the commissioners have not yet been able to carry out their mandate to establish the truth due to administrative obstacles and the lack of a secretariat.

Alongside efforts to establish the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR Aceh), the Tifa Foundation and KontraS Aceh continue to support victims of violence in Aceh as they prepare to engage directly with the KKR Aceh.

The existence of the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission offers hope to the victims and their families, who have long awaited justice. The justice sought by the victims is not limited to monetary compensation, but also includes efforts to protect their rights, such as providing certainty regarding the resolution of the human rights violations they have endured. Uncovering the truth must be the primary focus of the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission in carrying out its work in order to achieve success.

Abdullah, a resident of Tambue Barat, Simpang Mamplam Subdistrict, Bireuen Regency, and a victim of human rights violations in Aceh, said that many organizations have conducted surveys to identify conflict victims in Aceh. However, there has never been any clarity or follow-up regarding these surveys.

“I have never received the assistance that was promised. I sincerely hope that this institution (the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission) will be able to uncover the truth. After all, I too experienced torture during the conflict. Almost all residents have experienced torture at the hands of state officials,” he said[3].

In addition to uncovering the truth behind various human rights violations, the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission must also be part of the solution for how we can move forward to create a better system for the country. The Commission must also be able to bring about changes in state institutions so that they prioritize the integration of human rights perspectives and transitional justice approaches. For example, changes in the education sector, from elementary school through higher education.

The existence of the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission is crucial to helping Aceh build and sustain peace for future generations by learning from the past and documenting the prolonged violence that occurred, so that future conflicts in Aceh will not be repeated.

[1] Rediscovering Indonesia: Understanding Forty Years of Violence to Break the Chain of Impunity. KKPK Truth Commission Annual Report. 2014. Pages 144–145

[2] The victim’s statement was obtained from Hendra Saputra, Coordinator of the Commission for the Missing and Victims of Violence (KontraS) in Aceh

[3] Ibid.