Resolving the riots: Is it possible?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It has been three years since the May riots
\ncaused Indonesia to plunge into its darkest hours of destruction
\nbut, legally, the case still remains unsolved, leaving many
\npeople in doubt as to whether the issue actually can be settled.<\/p>\n
Munir, Chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras), said that reconciling the
\nincidents of widespread violence had too many obstacles needing
\nto be overcome.<\/p>\n
The first problem, he said, is that there is an issue of
\nreligion and ethnicity.<\/p>\n
The main targets of violence during the riots were Chinese
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
\"The second obstacle is that the incidents included military
\nrivalries as well as political,\" he told The Jakarta Post by
\ntelephone over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Finally, Munir said, the unrest was the result of a political
\nconspiracy.<\/p>\n
\"It was created either to urge former president Soeharto to
\nstep down, or maybe it was Soeharto's idea to make this country
\nunstable. Then, afterwards, the incident was not considered
\nimportant anymore,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It just showed how expensive the path to democracy is,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The riots occurred several days before Soeharto stepped down
\nfrom the presidency, and was provoked by the shooting of students
\nat Trisakti University.<\/p>\n
The riots erupted in Jakarta, Surakarta, Central Java, Medan,
\nNorth Sumatra and several other places.<\/p>\n
Munir asserted that, similar to other human rights violation
\ncases, the May riots remain confusing in terms of the mechanisms
\nused to incite the rioting and who holds ultimate responsibility.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, I'm still pessimistic that this case can be
\nsolved. Sure, ideally, there should be accountability and
\nrehabilitation for victims. But in reality, it is very hard to
\nrealize,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, he added, the political elite should not justify such
\npractices of sacrificing people in the name of democracy.<\/p>\n
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) chairman
\nAlbert Hasibuan, meanwhile, was more optimistic, saying that the
\nHouse of Representatives should recommend that the government
\nform an ad hoc human rights court to try rights abuses related to
\nthe riots.<\/p>\n
\"After that, we can establish the Commission of Inquiry Into
\nHuman Rights Violations (KPP HAM),\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Albert said that the case had been left unsolved for too long.<\/p>\n
\"We have to set a target for its completion -- by the end of
\nthis year at the latest,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He also asserted that the government should learn from a
\nsimilar rights abuse case, the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident.<\/p>\n
Albert said that Komnas HAM has submitted recommendation
\nletters to the House.<\/p>\n
\"The most recent was last March. We informed in the letter
\nthat there were severe human rights violations during the riots,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Similar to Albert, University of Indonesia legal expert
\nHarkristuti Harkrisnowo said that there was still something that
\ncould be done with the case.<\/p>\n
\"Victims of the violence should provide information about what
\nreally happened to them,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"This case can still be processed, especially considering that
\nit has not expired under the statute of limitations, as
\nstipulated in Article 78 of the Criminal Code,\" Harkristuti said.<\/p>\n
The Code states that the limitation for prosecution in
\nrelation to such a crime is at least six years.<\/p>\n
However, many of the victims prefer to remain silent.<\/p>\n
\"I have a friend whose house was looted during the incident.
\nAnd another friend who was sexually assaulted -- she now lives in
\nSingapore. But what's the use of talking about it?\" a Chinese
\nIndonesian woman said.<\/p>\n
\"We never discuss it anymore. At least those victims now have
\ntheir lives back, even though they may not be the same as they
\nused to. Talking about the issue will only make them suffer more.
\nAnd even if they talk, it is of no use,\" she said, reflecting the
\nwidespread skepticism that the case could ever be legally solved.
\n(hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/resolving-the-riots-is-it-possible-1447893297",
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