REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto has called on several parties that have accused him of involvement in cases of human rights violations to clearly prove their accusations.
"I am hoping that the issues regarding my involvement in cases of human rights violations can be proved in detail, when and where. I will tender my explanation on each accusation," he affirmed following the handover ceremony for the coordinating minister's post at the Coordinating Ministry of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry's office building in Jakarta on Thursday.
Wiranto's appointment as the new coordinating minister by President Joko Widodo on Wednesday in Jakarta drew criticism from several parties.
The former military commander is deemed responsible for several gross human rights violations, according to reports submitted to the National Commission on Human Rights.
The cases include the Trisakti University tragedy in May 1998, Semanggi I and II incidents, and the abduction and disappearance of pro-democracy activists in 1997 and 1998, as well as the Bloody Biak incident.
Moreover, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence made another important revelation that Wiranto's name had appeared in a special 92-page report released by the United Nations under the "Serious Crimes Unit" mandate.
The report claimed that the former aide to President Suharto during the 1987-1991 period had failed to fulfill his responsibilities as the highest commander of the Military and Police forces in Timor Leste to prevent human rights violations and is also deemed to have failed in enforcing the law against the perpetrators.
The document prevented Wiranto from entering international jurisdictions, including the United States.
Amid all forms of criticism that corner him, Wiranto announced his intentions to continue the efforts pioneered by former coordination minister for political, legal, and security affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to settle the past cases of gross human rights violations.
The statement refers to the establishment of a special team as suggested during the symposium for the 1965 incident, where hundreds and thousands of Indonesians became victims of the mass slaughter carried out by the members of the anti-Communist Party of Indonesia as well as the formation of an integrated team to settle the human rights violation cases in Papua.
"Luhut had taken steps to settle the past cases of human rights violations, and I will continue those measures in ways that are just, transparent, and dignified, without harming the national interest, which remains the top priority," Wiranto added.
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