Fadli Zon Rape Case on 1998 Mass Rape, Plaintiff Hopes PTUN Ruling Will Restore Political Morality

Former Attorney General and lawyer Marzuki Darusman hopes that the State Administrative Court (PTUN) can restore political morality through its ruling on the lawsuit against Culture Minister Fadli Zon. Marzuki, who is also the plaintiff, views this case as not only having legal dimensions but also concerning moral and political aspects in national life. “The PTUN is a very important gateway to restoring political morality in the nation’s life,” Marzuki stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4). He explained that the lawsuit was filed after Fadli Zon referred to the May 1998 mass rape incident as a “fantasy.” According to him, such a statement is inappropriate for a state official. “Fadli Zon is not in a position to judge because this matter has not yet been legally resolved,” he said. Marzuki stressed that his side demands accountability from Fadli Zon for the statement. “Fadli Zon must apologise and acknowledge his mistake in calling the incident a fantasy or delusion,” he asserted. He also highlighted the importance of the PTUN’s role in safeguarding the integrity of the national legal system. Marzuki reminded that the PTUN’s ruling will greatly determine public trust in the law in Indonesia. “This is a court with a very important historical and political position. Public trust in Indonesian law will be determined by how the PTUN decides this case,” he said. Furthermore, he emphasised that public trust can be restored if the ruling is made objectively and fairly, but it could be lost otherwise. He also stressed the importance of the panel of judges’ independence from all forms of pressure in deciding the case. “That trust can rise if decided correctly, but it can be lost otherwise. The challenge is whether the PTUN can remain independent from pressure,” said Marzuki. Marzuki hopes the resulting ruling not only delivers justice but also serves as an initial step towards legal restoration in Indonesia. “The PTUN’s ruling will be the spearhead of legal restoration in Indonesia,” he concluded. The lawsuit to the PTUN, supported by civil society, is an important step after nearly three decades during which the mass rape issue has often been denied. The report of the Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF), formed during President B.J. Habibie’s era, has conclusively determined the presence of sexual violence in that incident. The emergence of statements doubting the term mass rape in the May 1998 Tragedy constitutes a denial of historical facts. How painful it is to witness the state seemingly struggling to acknowledge its dark history, even though data and victim testimonies have been collected since the early Reformasi period. Activists from 1998 are urging Fadli Zon to apologise for his statement doubting the May 1998 mass rapes. If not fulfilled within 30 days, they will besiege his office. Members of the Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) for the May 1998 riots, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, and the National Commission on Violence Against Women have responded to Fadli Zon’s statement on the mass rapes. This is Culture Minister Fadli Zon’s response after receiving widespread criticism for his statement on the May 1998 rapes.