Jokowi's Efforts on Past Human Rights Violations Going Nowhere: Activist
Jakarta. Efforts by the current administration to settle past cases of human rights abuses seems to be going nowhere, said an activist, who questioning promises President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made during his election campaign more than two years ago.
There were renewed concerns over the country's human rights record on Friday (09/12), a day before the observance of International Human Rights Day.
There were high hopes for the resolution of past cases of human rights violations, which has long been demanded by activists and victims' families, with the rise to power of President Joko Widodo, whom many have seen as someone not tainted by the past.
But seems to have set aside his campaign promises now, said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Jakarta-based Setara Institute.
"The steps taken to resolve past cases of human rights violations have been very minimal and slow. They can even be said to be going nowhere," he told the media on Friday.
Years of investigations by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) have resulted in reports on past cases of what has been declared gross human rights abuses across the country.
Commissioners have long submitted their reports to the Attorney General's Office for further investigations, but to no avail, due to continuing debate over technical issues.
Government officials have occasionally hinted this year that some of the cases would be settled through what they have called national reconciliation, but there have been no signs of progress so far.
"Jokowi does not seem to place too much emphasis on human rights matters and their resolution. He seems to consider that they are likely to cause political instability," Bonar said.
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