REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government wishes to settle cases of gross human rights violations, including the one related to the 1965 tragedy, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Panjaitan said here on Monday.
"There is a will on the part of the government to finally resolve the cases of human rights violations that have happened. We see that a resolution to the 1965 case would pave the way to settle other cases," he said while opening a national symposium on the 1965 tragedy in which an abortive coup attempt was made by, as many believe, the then communist party.
He said it was not easy to organize the symposium since there were some adverse reactions and accusations that the government was under the influence of communists and others.
President Joko Widodo has also expressed a wish to resolve all human rights cases, he said.
"Indonesia is a big nation and does not need anyone's pity. We can solve our problems by ourselves," he said.
He said he hoped the symposium would not lead to groups clashing with one another.
The governor of the National Defense Institute, Agus Widjojo, said the symposium was being held based on a historical approach.
"This approach is more objective and comprehensive. It is like showing a film about the 1965 tragedy. We will listen to what happened before and after it," he said.
He said the massacre did not occur on its own, and added there were forces behind it, and that it was done systematically.
He said a big nation is one that could accept its past and admit its mistakes.
The symposium was attended by 200 participants from various walks of life, including activists, victims, actors, mass organization members and others.
The recommendations of the symposium would act as an input for the government in resolving the differences over this tragedy.
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