CASE STUDY
Indonesia:
Komnas HAM inquiry into 1965 massacres382
Internal conflict in Indonesia in 1965, following an alleged coup attempt by the
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the takeover by the Indonesian military,
led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people – perhaps half a million
– in a campaign of massacres and persecution that lasted several years.
Many more were imprisoned for years without charge. The massacres and the
persecutions were not investigated during the Suharto New Order regime that
emerged from the conflict. They remained largely suppressed for over four
decades until the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) decided in 2008 to conduct an investigation. Komnas HAM gathered
testimony from 349 witnesses during more than three years of investigation.
In its 850-page report submitted to the Attorney General’s Office and released
publicly in July 2012, Komnas HAM found that the campaign of systematic
murder and persecution constituted a gross human rights violation. It
concluded that military officials had deliberately targeted innocent civilians
during the operations, which occurred nationwide. Although the campaign was
targeted at Communists, the victims included many who had had nothing to
do with the PKI or its affiliates. They became victims because of their ethnicity
(many were of Chinese descent) or personal vendettas or random violence.
According to the report, the military officials made it look like those people
were linked to the PKI.
The discrimination against people actually or allegedly associated with the PKI
in the 1960s continued for decades, with the government barring them from
roles as civil servants, military officers, teachers or clerics. Former political
prisoners of the period found it hard to get jobs due to their status being
shown on their identity cards.
Komnas HAM demanded that the Government issue a formal apology
to victims and their families and provide rehabilitation, reparation and
compensation. It urged that military officials who were responsible for various
crimes, including mass rape, torture and killings, be brought to trial.
The Murder Victim’s Research Foundation said that the late former President
Suharto was the person most responsible for the crimes. However, the
fact that he had died should not deter the Attorney General’s Office from
investigating the case. The Foundation said that several other perpetrators
remained alive.
GOOD PRACTICE
NHRIs working in war and conflict situations face grave difficulties in
undertaking their responsibilities. They must uphold human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including the rule of law and accountability for
violations, and also ensure the safety of their staff and of those who approach
them for assistance. They must protect their own independence and their
commitment to their mandate.