Victor Da Costa from the Indonesian Association of Families of Lost Persons, or IKOHI, says his CSO and others like Kontras are trying to get the government to show some political will to tackling the issue. “Even after Komnas HAM’s recommendation was rejected, we’re still pushing the government through pressure and lobbying to make it a main agenda. We demand rehabilitation from the state and for the truth to be revealed,” he says. “Especially when we see that there has been no significant improvement in SBY’s term.” Many have suggested that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will not and cannot do anything because his father-in-law, the late Gen. Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, was one of the generals who spearheaded the anti-PKI purge. IKOHI is also trying to tackle the decades of propaganda through education. The organization holds regular discussions to set history straight and try to get rid of the stigma against the victims. “We can’t explicitly change the curriculum, so we conduct discussions for youths, teachers and students. It may be limited, but we do it continuously, so hopefully it can set the record straight,” Victor says. IKOHI says it aims for the younger generation, because trying to sway older Indonesians seems unlikely. “For those aged above 60, it’s difficult. They have their own political and historical resistance. That’s why we hope the next generation, who will later fill the public space, will right the wrongs,” Victor says. Bonnie shares the same sense of optimism about the next generation of Indonesians. “I’m confident with today’s generation. They are open for this kind of discussion,” he says. --------------------------- Justice for Victims of 1965 Communist Purge as Pressing as Ever Adelia Anjani Putri Jakarta Globe Read more: thejakartaglobe/news/justice-victims-1965-purge-pressing-ever/
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 08:28:14 +0000
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