Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Stigmatized as rebels, victims of the bloody Talangsari tragedy in East Lampung asked the government on Friday to rehabilitate their names and give them proper compensation.
"The stigma of rebel is still applied to us since our names have never been rehabilitated. Our children and grandchildren had difficulties to find jobs or to apply to be civil servants," Azwar Kaili, one of the victims of the tragedy which occurred in 1989, said.
The 74-year-old man hoped the government could soon legally settle the human rights violation case and give proper compensations to the victims.
Another victim of the tragedy, Jayus, who is now living in Muara Dua, South Sumatra, said that compensation was needed for the victims to continue their lives. "The stigma was very hard. I had to move from my village to continue our life," the 60-year-old Jayus said.
The tragedy occurred in Cihideung hamlet, Talangsari village, Rajabasa district, Central Lampung regency, when a battalion from the Garuda Hitam Lampung military command attacked the hamlet, which was accused of sheltering a rebel group.
At least 246 people were reportedly killed as a result of the military attack against the Warsidi-led group, which had been based on a 3.5 hectare plot in the hamlet. The government officially acknowledged 27 deaths in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, coordinator of the impunity division of the Committee for Missing Persons and Violence Victims, Chrisbiantoro, praised the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for reviewing the case.
"But Komnas HAM still failed to summon key persons from the military who should be held responsible for the human rights violation," Chrisbiantoro said.
He suggested the rights commission should not just investigate the rights abuses, but also examine the material and intangible losses suffered by the victims. He said the victims had lost their properties, including land and cattle, as well as job opportunities.
"Many of the victims and their families were dismissed from their jobs since they were accused of being involved in the tragedy," he said.
He said Komnas HAM should work hard to bring the rights violations to court. "But it's difficult as Komnas HAM has limited authority."
According to government regulations, victims of gross human right violations can be given compensation and their names rehabilitated once the case concerned has been permanently resolved and settled by the court. "As we know, it's not easy to hold a human rights trial in Indonesia," Chrisbiantoro said.