Jakarta – A 10-year old boy, Markus Yernirkolaus, suddenly appeared in the middle of a Kamisan (Thursday Action) and gave a speech about human rights violations by presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.
“Indonesia is a disreputable human rights violator!”, shouted Yernirkolaus in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday June 26.
Yernirkolaus taunted the Indonesian government that has over the years failed to take action against human rights violators saying that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is callous and inhuman because he fails to prioritise the ordinary people by allowing human rights perpetrators to remain free.
Yernirkolaus said that he is convinced that Prabowo was involved in the abduction of political activists in 1997-98. The cousin of Ucok Munandar [one of the 13 activists who have not been found], also slammed Prabowo for fleeing the country [to Jordan] after he was dismissed from the military.
Because of this therefore, Yernirkolaus believes Prabowo is unsuitable to be running as a presidential candidate for the Republic of Indonesia. “It’s inappropriate to praise Prabowo, a coward will become president”, shouted Yernirkolaus.
Although he does not support Prabowo, the class V primary school student is also suspicious of people behind the candidacy of presidential candidate Joko Widodo, specifically People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) general chairperson former armed forces chief retired General Wiranto. “Jokowi [Widodo] should think about [the fact] that behind him is Wiranto. Wiranto is dangerous. He was Prabowo’s senior officer”, added Yernirkolaus.
The bespectacled boy conceded that he would be happier if Jokowi expelled Wiranto from the ranks of his coalition partners because Wiranto is one of the masterminds behind past human rights violations.
Yernirkolaus’ speech was welcomed by the other protesters and several people took turns in asking him to be photographed with them.
Notes
Kamisan – Roughly translated as “Thursday Actions”, every Thursday since January 18, 2007 the Solidarity Network for Victims and Families of Victims (JSKKK) has been organising silent actions in front of the State Palace calling on President Yudhoyono to resolve past human rights cases.
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]
