The Indonesian government’s failure to recognize past atrocities is the reason behind the ongoing human rights abuse that is occurring in Indonesia today.
On October 1st, 1965, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces kidnapped and killed six right-wing generals. The poorly organized group, the 30 September Movement, was swiftly suppressed by the military regime of General Suharto. The movement's actions were blamed on the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI), resulting in the mass purge against anyone considered to be “communist”. From 1965-66, half a million to a million Indonesians were killed by the Indonesian Army and anti-communist civilian allies. This marked the end of the social base presidency of Sukarno and the commencement of Suharto’s authoritarian presidency, the New Order. The survivors and their relatives of the violence would lose their civil rights and the nation would be permanently reformed.
The Suharto regime ceased in 1998, however, the New Order perspectives of the massacre have remained prevalent in the post-authoritarian Indonesia society. The mass killings are remembered as a victory against crushing communism and fail to recognize any recounts of human suffering. Accountability has not been taken by the Indonesian government. No trails. No recollection commission. No memorials for victims. The criminals and murder that took part in the crimes stand free while the military holds control over the Indonesian government.
Suharto’s regime was based on the power of the military and forced itself into every branch of the government and economy. Therefore, its influence has restricted civil liberties and controls the nation's political life. Under his regime, significant cases of abuse were carried out alongside the communist purge. This includes; the invasion of East Timor, the military occupation of Ache, and the invasion of West Papua. With the lack of acknowledgment and reform occurring in Indonesia, the military remains above the law and silences their people.
In 1961, after many attempts to obtain what should be under Indonesian control, president Suharto declared the takeover of West Papua with military force and would annex the country from Dutch control. Fearing the country would turn communist if Shuarto’s demands were not met, the US-led negotiations between Indonesia and the Netherlands. Without the consent of the Papuans, the New York Agreement was concluded and gave Indonesia administration over West Papua starting in 1962.
Under article 18 of the treaty, the 1969 Act of Free Choice was carried out which was an election allowing West Papuan’s to vote for their Independence. However, the Indonesian military intervened and restricted the vote to 1,025 men and women of their choice. The military threatened the kill the voters and their families if they did not vote in favor of Indonesian control. Since 1969, at least 500,000 West Papuans have been killed fighting for their independence.
Indonesian soldiers are seen holding up the West Papuan tribal elder, Yustinus Murib after they have killed him. The soldiers pose with a dead Murib as if he is an animal that they had hunted. The Indonesian government has since cut off internet services in West Papua and placed a ban on foreign journalists. The lack of investigation into human rights abuse occurring in Indonesia is the reason why this country is in the mitts of its second genocide. Papuans endure fear as they are raped, tortured, killed, and suppressed by their government.
On November 30, 2020, UN human rights spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, spoke out against the growing violence in Papua and West Papua, urging Indonesian authorities to advocate for the basic rights of their people. Protests, arrests, and death are endured by Papuan’s as they are objects of the human rights discourse.
Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is denied to Papuan’s as they continue to fight for their independence. The video shows Indonesian soldiers open firing at peaceful Papua protesters, who can be seen holding their hands up in the air. Six protestors were killed and over a dozen were injured in the city of Deiyai. Pro-Indonesian groups have been behind the attacks and can be seen holding the Indonesian flag and are armed with weapons. Media censorship persists in West Papua as the Papua police stated that military forces fired only after they were first attacked and that one protester was killed in the shooting.
Shamdasani went on to state that it’s time for investigations to be carried out against all acts of violence to address long-standing abuse. However, in 1969, the UN oversaw the Act of Free Choice, which leads to the Indonesian takeover of West Papua and the ongoing human rights violations against Papuans. The Indonesian government is not the only country that should hold accountability for the ongoing human rights violations that started in 1965. The UN and most importantly the U.S. should speak out and take action to stop the extreme human rights violations occurring in Indonesia.
In 1962, the US held a meeting with British officials where they decided to “liquidate” President Sukarno due to his alliances with communist countries such as China. Although Sukarno was a nationalist, his support of communism caused America to administer covert operations to undercut Sukarno’s presidency and strengthen the military, which was led by Suharto. When the mass killings started, the US was responsible for providing funds, weapons, and equipment to the Suharto regime. Furthermore, the US sent the Indonesian military a list of over a thousand public figures who opposed the new regime. Likely with the intention to kill the opposers. Out of fear of communism, the U.S was involved in aiding Suharto into power, was knowledgeable about the communist purge, and supported Indonesia in the takeover of West Papua.
On October 17, 2017, the National Security Archive published a declassified document revealing US knowledge of the Indonesian killings from 1965-66. The document is one out of 36 documents that can detest US involvement. But the extent of America’s role is still unknown since only a handful of C.I.A. documents and U.S. defense papers have been released with the majority remaining classified. The documents are crucial in discovering the exact number of deaths that occurred during Suharto's purge and would recognize that genocide was committed. The realsement of the documents would start the healing process that is needed to bring justice to Indonesia's crimes.
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populated country and its government has continuously failed to recognize its people’s basic human rights. The Indonesian government has continuously denied requests from the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate human rights abuse. The country is not acting as the democracy it has set to be. Rather keeping their violations concealed.
US support and aid of Suharto along with the UN’s failed oversight of the Act of Free Choice has given Indonesia the ability to maintain control over their people. If Shuarto’s dictatorship was shut down when its first violations broke out then it’s dominance in modern Indonesia would not be in effect. As a world superpower, it should be America’s job to set an example for other countries that can not happen if past atrocities are not acknowledged.
For reform to happen in Indonesia, the US government needs to publicly state its involvement in Suharto’s regime, release the classified documents that reveal its role in the crimes, and meet with Indonesian officials to order them to do the same. The UN needs to do its job in protecting human rights by stopping the toleration of human rights abuse in Indonesia, start an investigation against the violations and grant West Papua it’s rightful freedom.
