Jokowi’s regret over Indonesia’s past atrocities ‘meaningless’, rights victims say

President Joko Widodo expressed regret over gross human rights abuses occurring in Indonesia, but did not mention violations that targeted Chinese-Indonesians

One Human Rights Watch researcher in Indonesia, said the expression of regret is a ‘right step forward’, though it’s ‘too little too late’

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday admitted that serious human rights violations had occurred across the nation in the past. Photo: Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP

Published: 6:45pm, 14 Jan 2023

Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s expression of regret over past “gross human rights violations” is being seen as a significant step forward, but reconciliation would be impossible if the perpetrators are not brought to court, human rights activists and survivors said.

The admission was announced on Wednesday after Widodo read the report provided by a non-judicial settlement team for gross human rights violations, which Widodo established as part of promises he made during his first presidential campaign in 2014.

“With a clear mind and a sincere heart, I, as the head of state of the Republic of Indonesia, acknowledge that gross violations of human rights did occur in various incidents, and I deeply regret that these incidents of gross human rights violations occurred,” Widodo said.

“I have deep sympathy and empathy for the victims and their families. Therefore, firstly, the government and I try to recover the rights of the victims in a fair and wise manner without negating a judicial settlement.”

However, Widodo stopped short of apologising for the state’s roles in past atrocities.

Before concluding his remarks, Widodo said he was committed to preventing gross human rights violations from occurring again in Indonesia.

He then listed 12 major tragedies and incidents, occurring between 1965 and 2003, that are classified as gross human rights violations. The abuses include the CIA-backed anti-Communist purge in 1965-66, the forced disappearance of student protesters, and the killings of protesters in 1998 and 1999, and rights abuses in Papua in 2001-2003.