Basarah: Even Soeharto is a National Hero, Victims of Human Rights Violations Must be Served

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of DPR RI Commission XIII (human rights sector) Ahmad Basarah believes that the state should be able to resolve the provision of compensation for victims of past severe human rights violations. Compensation for human rights violation victims aligns with the government’s steps in designating Indonesia’s second President Soeharto as a national hero on the grounds of upholding the spirit of unity. “If Mr Harto has already been given national hero status, then the victims of human rights violations during the New Order era must also receive maximum services from the state,” Basarah said during a hearing (RDP) on compensation and rehabilitation for witnesses and victims of past severe human rights violations, on Thursday (2/4/2026). According to him, various severe human rights violation events remain a dark stain in the nation’s history that has yet to be thoroughly resolved to this day. Therefore, resolving past severe human rights violations, including through non-judicial mechanisms such as providing compensation and social guarantees, must be a priority. “If it’s just about victim data for human rights cases, especially since this resolution is still non-judicial, to obtain social guarantees and other compensation, in my opinion, that’s not enough to compensate for the suffering they endured in the past,” Basarah stated. “So, while Mr Prabowo has this spirit of national unity, let’s make it a momentum to provide compensation for the rehabilitation of victims of past severe human rights violations, truly uplifting the dignity and humanity of those victims of past severe human rights violations,” concluded Basarah, a PDIP politician.