Arientha Primanita, Jakarta – A website presenting updates on the International People's Tribunal on Indonesia's 1965 mass killing could not be accessed on Thursday afternoon.

The website was set up by human rights activists to inform the public about the activities of the tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, from Nov. 10 to 13. Thursday marked the third day of the tribunal, which is discussing the exiling of people, forced disappearances and hate propaganda.

When thejakartapost.com attempted to open the website, 1965tribunal.org, the homepage had been replaced with an ERROR 403-Forbidden notice.

The website was established to give live streams from the tribunal, which features prosecutors and witnesses who openly discuss what happened during the communist purge. People can still watch the tribunal on its YouTube channel.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said that the ministry did not block the website. "I have checked it," he told thejakartapost.com.

The tribunal is a civil initiative managed by human rights activists and aims to bring justice and closure for people whose lives were affected by the 1965 to 1966 mass killings. The massacre is believed to have been orchestrated by the government and claimed up to 1 million lives.

The President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration has chosen to ignore the tribunal, saying that Indonesia has its own judicial system and has given no details on how past human rights abuses will be addressed.

The tribunal is not legally binding but is an attempt to give recommendations for the government to acknowledge the past crimes against humanity as well as to formulate solutions for the victims and their families.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/12/1965-massacre-tribunal-website-blocked.html