Jakarta – July 28, 2017 – The silent protest by the families of victims of past human rights violations, known as the “Aksi Kamisan,” has reached its 500th iteration. This serves as a serious indication that the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and their families in cases of human rights violations is being called into question.

The association of families of victims of past human rights violations, together with human rights activists, held the 500th “Aksi Kamisan” on July 27, 2017. This protest, held every Thursday afternoon, is an effort by the victims’ families to fight for the truth and demand justice, as well as to keep the memory of past human rights violations alive. However, to this day, the government has remained indifferent to the demands of the victims’ families.

Since Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla took office as president and vice president in 2014, more than 100 “Aksi Kamisan” protests have been held across from the Presidential Palace fence. However, not once have the president and his vice president met with the protesters, who were only a few hundred meters away from the Palace fence. Compare this to Jokowi’s “blusukan” visits, which have taken him to nearly every province in Indonesia. During his three years in office, Jokowi has made more than 300 visits to locations spread across Indonesia’s 34 provinces.

Meanwhile, the victims’ families who were holding a “Kamisan” protest at the palace fence were even forced to move away. Under Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom of Expression in Public, demonstrations may only be held 100 meters away from critical facilities. This regulation has forced the Thursday protests out of the Presidential Palace grounds. This is because the 100-meter distance from the Presidential Palace fence is already blocked by the fence of the National Monument (Monas) park.

Comparing these conditions, Darmawan Triwibowo, Executive Director of the Tifa Foundation, stated that the public has reason to question the government’s commitment to upholding and protecting human rights, particularly regarding the resolution of past human rights violations. “When President Joko Widodo was elected, there was hope that he could make a difference. However, after two years, that hope has gradually turned into an illusion. Instead of resolving human rights violation cases, the state has become increasingly neglectful of citizens’ rights, including the rights to freedom of association and expression,” said Darmawan.

Silent peaceful protests by victims’ families, such as the Aksi Kamisan, are not unique in the world. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo movement in Argentina was spearheaded by mothers who lost their children under forced disappearances during the military regime from 1976 to 1983. During that period, the military is believed to have killed more than 22,000 people. The mothers, who wore white headscarves during their protests, became a symbol of courage until finally, in 2016, more than a thousand personnel who had committed torture and murder were brought to trial, and seven hundred of them were sentenced.

Darmawan added that the Thursday Demonstrations are a concrete demand for the state to ensure truth and justice—not only for the families of the victims who stage silent protests in front of the Presidential Palace, but also for all victims and families affected by past human rights violations.

“This (Thursday protest) is the voice of the people, which should not be ignored. President Joko Widodo’s response to this protest reflects the current government’s commitment to resolving cases of human rights violations in Indonesia,” said Darmawan.

The Tifa Foundation urges the Joko Widodo-JK administration to fulfill the state’s commitment to resolving past human rights violations and to uphold citizens’ rights to justice and truth. The government must stop disregarding the rights of citizens and the families of victims and actively support truth-seeking movements and institutions—such as the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission—as well as accountability bodies like the National Commission on Human Rights.