Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and chair of the PPHAM team steering committee, Mahfud MD, conveyed the information after submitting the team’s report and recommendations to the President at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.
“In the near future, the President will invite relevant ministers, including the Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Minister of Finance, commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, chief of Police, Minister of Education, and others,” Mahfud informed media crew after the meeting.
“They will be invited to be given assignments based on this recommendation,” he added.
Mahfud said that among the things that need to be followed up are physical recommendations based on the findings of the PPHAM team in several places, though he did not elaborate on them.
“Then there are people who still experience discrimination in everyday life,” he added.
Mahfud appealed to the public to not label the work of the PPHAM team as an attempt to dwarf Muslims or revive communism.
“Precisely this is recommended. At least 4 of them have an Islamic basis,” he said.
For instance, 3 of the 12 incidents that the Indonesian government has recognized as serious human rights violations occurred in Aceh, he said. Therefore, it is unreasonable to say that the work of the PPHAM team is aimed at discrediting Muslims, he added.
“Then related to (the murder of) the witchcraft (shamans), 142 clerics became victims and their families are still suffering so we have to take action,” he said.
Regarding the PPHAM team’s review of the 1965–1966 incident, which is often used to accuse the authorities of attempts to revive communism, Mahfud emphasized that the victims whose rights were rehabilitated were not only former PKI members, but also Muslims and soldiers.
“There are (former) PKI members, Muslims, there are also soldiers. All of that will be given compensation and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the juridical issue is (still) being processed in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.l
After receiving the PPHAM team’s report, President Widodo said that the Indonesian government acknowledges that there have been serious human rights violations in 12 incidents in the past and emphasized his deep regret over the incidents.
“With a clear mind and a sincere heart, I, as the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia, acknowledge that serious human rights violations did occur in various events,” he said.
The 12 incidents include the 1965–1966 incident, the 1982–1985 mysterious shooting incident, the Talangsari incident in Lampung in 1989, the Rumoh Geudong and Pos Sattis incidents in Aceh in 1989, the 1997–1998 forced disappearances incident, and the May 1998 riot incident.
Other incidents include the Trisakti and Semanggi I-II incidents in 1998–1999, the murder of witchcraft shamans in 1998–1999, the 1999 Aceh KKA Simpang incident, the 2001–2002 Wasior Papua incident, the 2003 Wamena Papua incident, and the 2003 Aceh Jambo Keupok incident.
The President expressed his deep sympathy and empathy for the victims of the 12 incidents and their families.
He emphasized that the government is trying to restore victims’ rights in a fair and wise manner without negating judicial settlement and is making earnest efforts so that serious human rights violations do not recur in Indonesia.
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