During her meetings with Indonesian authorities, Amnesty International urged an end to impunity for those responsible for human rights violations in the country.

“We are calling for the immediate investigation of serious human rights violations that remain dark chapters in Indonesia’s history. This includes the killing of Wawan, the son of Mrs. Sumarsih, during the 1998 student protests, a case that remains without justice. We call for an ad hoc human rights court to investigate this case,” Callamard said.

She also expressed her highest respect for the families and relatives of victims who continue to fight for justice every day, month, and year, including organizing “Aksi Kamisan,” a weekly vigil to remember the victims.

“During my visit to Indonesia, I also met with several victims of human rights violations, including those who participated in the ‘Indonesia Gelap’ protests last month and demonstrations in Papua. In these cases, we have seen excessive use of force by security personnel against human rights defenders. We are also monitoring the criminalization of actions that are legally protected, such as protests on climate change, despite legal provisions that protect citizens advocating for public interest (Anti-SLAPP laws),” she stated.

In Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia has documented cases of torture, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, with no indication that these cases have been fairly processed.

“Last year, we documented a case of torture that led to a death, where thirteen security personnel were allegedly involved, yet none have been brought to trial. It is clear that there is an urgent need for justice in these cases,” Callamard said.

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