Be Part of ‘Kamisan’ Action

with Social Movement Institute

Thursday, 5 June 2014, several activists of Stube-HEMAT took part in ‘Kamisan’ action held by Social Movement Institute (SMI) and KONTRAS. This peace action coordinated by Asman and Bandel Ilyas from SMI is held on Thursday every week. That day, there were 30 activists from several elements participated in the action. Each participant wore black suites plus black umbrella. According to Ilyas, the action coordinator, the black umbrella and suit symbolize the death of justice, law and the the law enforcement as black suit is normally used in mourning days during a burial ceremony.

The eleventh peace action was lasting for 40 minutes at Tugu monument of Yogyakarta. One big banner depicted some lost people that were assumed as victims of abduction done by the New Order, like Wiji Tukul, Munir, and Udin, the journalist.  The banner said, ”We don’t forget and we don’t forgive”. Some stickers distributed to the surrounding people has Gandhi’s motto said, ”Violence is the weapon of the weak people”.

In the midst of the action, the coordinator said to Stube HEMAT activists that up to now, there are still many Human Right violations in Indonesia. The violation should not be forgotten even will not be forgiven. Ilyas also added that it’s such irony when a certain people said that they forgave such violations. They said that they want to forget all violantion cases with one reason that they want to welcome the future not the past. This thought is absolutely wrong! When a Human Right violation is not investigated properly, it will triger other violations in the future. It will be repeated again and again.

The thoroughly investigation of Human Right violations became a main agenda for the next president.Who will be the next president, either from military or civil, should have this agenda. If he doesn’t have such agenda, he is not deserved to be the president of this country. So far, Ilyas doesn’t know when such action will be finished. The same action is also done in Jakarta, even it has been lasting for eight years. In the future a committee will be founded as one follow up of the action and it will be an entrance point for the next other activists recruitment. There will be also a training of politics education for the activists.

Talking about HAM, without knowing the history of human right violations is like walking with one leg. So, learning history should be done continuously. For Stube HEMAT activists wherever you are, we should keep ourselves qualified and be aware of our national problems by learning history and promoting human rights. Simple action may be done and it will give significant impact when we consistenly do it. Finally, don’t just keep developing your personal ability but also be active to promote justice as it will guarantee the plurality in our society. ***