Activists gathered for the 477th Kamisan protest. Jefri Aries/Brilio.net
Activists gathered in front of State Palace along with families of human rights abuse victims on Thursday for Kamisan, a weekly protest held every Thursday (thus, the name Kamisan) urging the government to solve unfinished cases of human rights violations.
The cases include May 1998 riots, Trisakti shooting, Semanggi 1&2 tragedies, the missing of democracy activists, Talang Sari Lampung tragedy, Tanjung Priok massacre, and 1965 tragedy.
Though Kamisan is held weekly, this week's protest was special as it was the 477th protest and marked the 10th year of the participants' consistenteffort.
As usual, protesters came wearing black to symbolize grief, protection, and courage of the victims and families.
Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) joined the crowd to give an award for Kamisan and its participants as the longest running human rights protest held in Indonesia.
Their persistence and valor in demanding justice deserve an appreciation. said MURI Founder Jaya Suparna as he gave the award.
The award was symbolically received by Maria Katarina Sumarsih, one of Kamisan initiators, who lost her son Norma Irmawan in Semanggi I tragedy on Nov. 13, 1998.
We have been supported by youths in various places, including Bandung, Pekanbaru, Medan, Malang, Surabaya, Karawang, Banten, Batam, Samarinda, Yogyakarta," she said. "We won't stop pursuing justice, fighting ignorance, and fighting impunity. We will keep demanding (the government) to solve human rights violation cases."
(brl/red)
