Cholil ERK Joins KontraS Supervisory Board, Eka The Brandals on Management

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has announced the formation of its supervisory board and management board for the 2026-2030 period. Two musicians—Cholil Mahmud, vocalist of the band Efek Rumah Kaca (ERK), and Eka Annash, vocalist of the band The Brandals—are among the appointees. “We hereby announce and congratulate the members of the Supervisory Board and Management of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) for the 2026-2030 period,” KontraS wrote on its Instagram account @kontras_update on 19 July 2026. “It is our great hope to carry forward the aspirations through KontraS’s work, to continue the relay of humanitarian values and to always fight for the marginalised, as well as to constantly strive for justice for victims.”

The Supervisory Board includes Cholil Mahmud, Galuh Wandita, and Karlina Supeli. Galuh is a woman focused on human rights issues and the empowerment of victims of violence. She served as one of the “citizen council” members in the Year of Truth, which heard victims’ testimonies and produced the report “Rediscovering Indonesia: 40 Years of Violence to Break the Chain of Impunity.” Karlina Supeli is a philosopher, academic, and prominent female astronomer known for her integrity and strong commitment to humanity. She was the first woman in Indonesia to earn a degree in Astronomy from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and currently teaches as a senior lecturer at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy (STF).

The Management Board for this period will be filled by Eka Annash, Yati Andriyani, Fatia Maulidiyanti, Putri Kanesia, and Nining Elitos. Yati is a human rights activist who currently serves as Chair of the KontraS Management Board. She also practises law at the firm Andriyani + Hidayat Counsellors at Law (HARA) and serves as Vice Chair of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). Fatia is a human rights defender and former Coordinator of KontraS, with over a decade of experience as a researcher and international advocate advancing civil and political rights. Alongside fellow human rights defender Haris Azhar, Fatia previously faced a defamation lawsuit brought by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the former Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, but they ultimately won the case. Putri Kanesia is an advocate and researcher currently working as Regional Advocacy Coordinator at Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), a regional organisation focusing on human rights and transitional justice in the Asia-Pacific. She previously worked at KontraS until 2020, with her last position being Deputy Coordinator for Advocacy. Nining Elitos is a legal and labour organisation activist with a solid leadership track record since 1998. She is currently active in leading the labour movement at the national level through various strategic positions, including Coordinator of the National Labour Council and former Chairperson of the KASBI Confederation.