Jakarta, Kompas – Victims of the 1965 tragedy – who are still stigmatised as members of the Indonesian Communist Party or its affiliated organisations – are suing Indonesia’s five presidents, former presidents Suharto, B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. One of the demands of the victims is revoking all regulations which still discriminate against them.

The suit has already been filed and received by the Central Jakarta State Court clerk of courts and assigned case number 238/SK/LBH/III/2005. The victims were accompanied by their legal council from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH). At a press conference at LBH Jakarta on Thursday March 10, the director of LBH Jakarta, Parulian Sihombing and LBH Jakarta staff member Gatot explained that prior to this the victims had already requested assistance from the National Human Rights Commission and the People’s Representative Assembly.

The suit is being presented by a group who were forced to resign from their jobs; a group which has yet to receive their civil service, armed forces or police pension payments; a group of veterans who’s allowances and services as national heroes were revoked; a group who’s land and property was seized; a group who were removed from school or unable to continue their education because they were accused of not having a clean environment1 and; a groups who’s artistic creativity was obstructed and were prohibited from publishing their ideas. (VIN)

Notes:

1. Clean environment (bersih lingkungan) – a phrase to denote a person as “pure” from any possible communist influence.

[Translated by James Balowski.]