The government's steps in formulating the definition of gross human rights violation victims, who have the right to justice through the non-judicial mechanism, should be monitored, said Head of Komnas HAM, Atnike Nova Sigiro, in Padang, West Sumatra, on Saturday.
"The goal is to ensure that no victims are denied their rights as victims of past gross human rights violations," she noted.
Regarding the government's statement that 39 gross human rights violation victims who were exiled are not traitors to the country, Sigiro acknowledged that she was unaware of the source of the data.
"I do not know where the government obtained the 39 names. This needs to be asked to them," she stressed.
Sigiro urged the mass media and coalition of civil societies in Indonesia to request data from the government regarding the 39 people who were exiled due to the 1965 incident.
"If the government says there are only 39, but there are others who have different data, then these should be compared," she emphasized.
In addition to those exiled in various countries, the commission has urged the government to find an accurate and effective formula so that the 1965 victims in Indonesia can receive restitution, especially through the non-judicial mechanism.
Restitution can take various forms, including material compensation, healthcare, scholarship programs, and capital assistance, she outlined.
"What is equally important is the restoration of reputation because not all victims require material compensation for restitution," she affirmed.
However, Sigiro acknowledged that to this day, she did not know what concrete actions would be taken by ministries and institutions to address the issue.
She also said that the government must seriously consider collective restitution, as those affected by gross human rights violations are not only the victims themselves but also members of the general public.
"The current generation born after 1998 may not necessarily know about the May riot. This is also a collective recovery that the government can consider through non-judicial mechanisms," she stated.
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Translator: M Zulfikar, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Anton Santoso
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