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“We welcome President Joko Widodo’s acknowledgment and expression of regret for 12 historical incidences of serious human rights violations, including the 1965-1966 anti-Communist crackdown, the 1982-1985 protester shootings, enforced disappearances in 1997 and 1998, and the Wamena Incident in Papua in 2003.The President’s gesture is an encouraging step on the long road to justice for victims and their loved ones,”she said.
This follows the recently concluded report by the Team for the Non-Judicial Resolution of Past Serious Human Rights Violations, which the UN Human Rights office hope will be made public to encourage discussion and debate.
“We note the President’s statement, delivered on Wednesday, does not preclude further judicial action and commits to reforms that should guarantee non-recurrence,” Throssell said.
“We urge the Indonesian Government to build on this momentum with tangible steps to take forward a meaningful, inclusive and participatory transitional justice process, guaranteeing truth, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence to victims and affected communities, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence,” the spokesperson stated.
Adding “A comprehensive transitional justice process will help to break the decades-long cycle of impunity, advance national healing, and strengthen Indonesia’s democracy.”
An estimated half a million people were killed in the anti-Communist crackdown of the 1960s and scores of pro-reform protesters lost their lives in killings during the 1980s.
END
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
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- Exterior shot: Wide shot entrance of Palais des Nations
- Wide Shot: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “We welcome President Joko Widodo’s acknowledgment and expression of regret for 12 historical incidences of serious human rights violations, including the 1965-1966 anti-Communist crackdown, the 1982-1985 protester shootings, enforced disappearances in 1997 and 1998, and the Wamena Incident in Papua in 2003. The President’s gesture is an encouraging step on the long road to justice for victims and their loved ones.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “We note the President’s statement, delivered on Wednesday, does not preclude further judicial action and commits to reforms that should guarantee non-recurrence.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “We urge the Indonesian Government to build on this momentum with tangible steps to take forward a meaningful, inclusive and participatory transitional justice process, guaranteeing truth, justice, reparations, and non-recurrence to victims and affected communities, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “A comprehensive transitional justice process will help to break the decades-long cycle of impunity, advance national healing, and strengthen Indonesia’s democracy.”
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