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Weighed down by politics, Jokowi disregards human rights issues
Jakarta Post - October 20, 2016
However, this has not been the case. Past human rights abuses continue to be put on the back burner as Jokowi's administration focuses on the economy and state infrastructure.
By consolidating political parties that serve as the foundation for his administration, Jokowi could maintain full control of the government and create stability for his development programs.
Questions remain if he is committed to solving past human rights abuses given that individuals allegedly involved in some of the country's darkest chapters are now part of his administration.
Earlier this year, Jokowi renewed his commitment to solve past human rights violations, just like when he was on the presidential campaign trail almost two years ago.
It was only recently revealed that he has ordered Attorney General M. Prasetyo to search for the controversial documents investigating the murder case of rights activist Munir Said Thalib and that a new legal process could start if the documents outline new evidence.
No follow-ups have been made as Prasetyo was reluctant to conduct any judicial review to resolve past rights violations.
Last month, Jokowi finally invited a number of prominent human rights campaigners, along with legal experts, to a meeting where he expected to collect opinions on his plan for comprehensive legal reform.
Many are hopeful that Jokowi's government was finally taking steps toward resolving past atrocities. Again, disappointment set in as the legal reform, which was unveiled last week, only focused on stamping out illegal levies.
While a document on the progress of economic development over the past two years has many details, the issue of resolving human rights violations was mentioned only once in the document and no details were provided.
Jokowi's tough stance on the death penalty for drug dealers and his plan to impose chemical castration on child rapists have further raised doubts over his commitment to human rights. The death penalty has become more popular in the country since Jokowi took office in 2014.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) recorded the judiciary handed down 35 death sentences in the first nine months of this year, the majority of which were crimes related to drug trafficking, sexual offenses and murder.
Many have considered Jokowi as operating without clear guidance on human rights issues and motivated by political expediency.
Jokowi decided to invite people of the Kendeng mountains to the State Palace for a dialogue in early August and ordered a temporary halt on karst mining in the area four months after protesters staged frequent demonstrations, including putting their feet in cement, in front of the Palace. The protesters were trying to block the construction of cement factories in the area.
Under his watch, the government has initiated the first forum to resolve the 1965 tragedy, which gathered victims, families of victims, scholars and military veterans to shed light on the communist purge that allegedly killed hundreds of thousands of people accused of being communists.
However, no follow-up has been made to act on the symposium's recommendation as any resolution has been strongly objected to by groups of military veterans.
On the protection of the LGBT community, Jokowi was caught between a rock and a hard place. The most he could do was make a symbolic gesture that meant little to the community.
As attacks against the LGBT community intensified, Jokowi remained tight-lipped and when the controversy appeared to have died down, he invited popular transgender actor and comedian Dorce Gamalama to join him for lunch with other comedians at the Palace.
Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said that Jokowi had been steadfast in his commitment to protect human rights, in spite of moves that raised eyebrows, like appointing Wiranto as Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister even though the retired general has been accused of being responsible for a number of past atrocities.
Johan maintained that the Jokowi administration "will be committed to human rights until the final days in office". "As for his focus on economic development, it does not effect his dedication to human rights," Johan said.
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