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Soeharto’s death should provide momentum for government to confront gross human rights violations
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) - January 27, 2008
We would like to express our condolences to the family of Soeharto for their loss. However, the Indonesian government must keep working to recognize and address the repressive legacy of Soeharto's administration. While in the future victims may forgive, we must never forget the abuses they suffered at the hands of the Soeharto regime. We must maintain a focus on providing justice for victims by addressing this legacy with dignity and the use of the legal process.
We are disappointed that the Indonesian government has still not been able to appropriately deal with past abuses of the Soeharto regime, i.e. massive corruption and human rights violations. Many people were killed, disappeared, and tortured during Soeharto's administration. They were somebody's father, mother, husband, wife or child. They and their families must be given at least the same respect that Soeharto's family is asking for themselves.
The death of Soeharto is not the end of the Indonesian government's obligation to resolve gross violations of human rights and corruption under Soeharto's regime. The death of Soeharto should provide momentum for the government to continue to fight to uncover the truth and punish all those responsible.
Even though Soeharto is no longer able to be criminally prosecuted himself, this must not stop the government from holding other members of his administration criminally responsible for the systematic crimes committed under their regime.
The government is not only legally obligated to uncover the truth and punish perpetrators of abuses, it must do this for the future development of Indonesia. Our great nation must be brave enough to face our past, so that we can learn from it and build a more stable and prosperous future for all Indonesians.
It is not the prerogative of the government to decide whether or not to forgive Soeharto. Forgiveness is the right of victims and their families. It can only be granted by those who have suffered from the policies and violence of the New Order Regime.
As a former head of state, we supported the Indonesian government's efforts to give Soeharto an appropriate funeral. However, the government must not forget Soeharto's responsibility for grave abuses committed against the people of Indonesia, for it is the people of Indonesia that the government serves, not its former leaders. Soeharto's regime is responsible for massive killings and detentions in 1965, crimes against Muslim groups (during the Tanjung Priok and Talangsari massacres), mysterious killings in 1980, military operations in Aceh and Papua, the invasion of Timor Leste, student shootings, enforced disappearances of pro-democracy activists 1997-1998.
Jakarta, 27 January 2008
Kontras, Victims of human right violation (Tragedy of 1965, Mysterious shooting, Tanjung Priok 1984,Talangsari 1989, May Riots 1998, Trisakti, Semanggi I & II, Enforced disappeared of activist 1997-1998)
The Commission for Disappeared
and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
Jl. Borobudur No. 14 Menteng
Jakarta Pusat 10320 Indonesia
phone: 62-21-3926983
fax: 62-21-3926821
email: kontras_98@kontras.org
website: www.kontras.org
mailinglist: info_kontras@yahoogroups.co.uk
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