"Tomorrow, I will go to Turkey for security cooperation. After that, I will go to Amsterdam and Prague, the Czech Republic," Mahfud stated at the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Monday.
Mahfud explained that his arrival was not to pick up the exiles back to their homeland, as the decision to return to Indonesia is the right of the exiles.
"It is not to pick them up but to meet and inform about the rights of victims of gross human rights violations because that is a constitutional right," he clarified.
According to Mahfud, exiled victims of gross human rights violations should be grateful for non-judicial solutions. They received recognition from the state after the tragedy of G30S, the failed coup of the 30 September Movement in 1965.
The government has also promised to improve and fulfill the victims' rights.
"We received an extraordinary welcome, not only from the regions, not only from Indonesia but also the UN Human Rights Council (that) immediately said that progress had been long overdue in Indonesia and only now being opened," Mahfud concluded.
On June 27, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) offered to restore citizenship to two persons who have been forced to live in exile since the 30 September Movement, which was marked by political upheaval and mass killings.
The offer was extended to two exiles, Sudaryanto and Jaroni Soerjomartono, who are currently in their 80s, at the launch of the Human Rights Violation Non-Judicial Resolution Recommendations Implementation Program in Pidie, Aceh.
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Translator: Narda Margaretha Sinambela, Cindy Frishanti Octavi
Editor: Sri Haryati
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