The Presidential-Vice Presidential Candidate Debate will take place tonight, Thursday (17/1). The inaugural debate with the theme determined by the General Elections Commission (KPU) concerns human rights, law, terrorism, and corruption.

Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Violence (KontraS) Aceh, Hendra Saputra, assessed that the two presidential and vice presidential candidates who will debate tonight talk about human rights not only on stage but must be implemented after the war of ideas in the debate arena is over.

"The two camps arguing tonight both have political support from the alleged perpetrators of past human rights violations, such as Wiranto in Jokowi's camp and Prabowo Subianto who have the potential to become perpetrators of human rights violations," said Hendra Saputra, Thursday (17/1) at Banda Aceh.

Lawhan, Hendra Saputra's nickname, reminded us that human rights issues should not only be a commodity for debate and campaign issues to gain people's votes. But after that, there was no implementation, just a political issue.

According to Kontras Aceh's observations, both camps have historical records of being involved in alleged human rights violations. Prabowo Subianto's center, based on existing documents, is still stumbling over past human rights violations. Meanwhile, Jokowi also practices human rights violations, such as evictions and security operations in Papua.

"The incumbent from the beginning did not focus on resolving human rights violations in Aceh, it can be seen from Jokowi's Nawacita, RPJM, even though the series of human rights violations in Aceh occurred for quite a long time from 1976 to 2005," he explained.

Currently, in Aceh, three out of five cases of human rights violations have reached Komnas HAM, namely the Jambo Kupok case in South Aceh, the tragedy at the North Aceh KKA intersection, and Rumoh Gedong in Pidie District. The issue is still pending and has not yet been resolved in the Supreme Court (MA).

"It should have been resolved, but instead the Supreme Court returned the file because there were not enough elements," he said.

According to Lawhan, the disclosure of human rights violations in Indonesia is not due to insufficient evidence. However, this is purely the political will of Indonesia's rulers and political elites.

"I have some doubts that cases of human rights violations are resolved, because the actors of human rights violations are still within the government, such as Wiranto, Prabowo," he explained.

The staff of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Banda Aceh, Syahrul said in the presidential and vice-presidential debate later, the two candidates must speak about human rights in their entirety. Human rights violations have occurred during the New Order until now, especially those in Aceh.

As for the Aceh level, he said, the central government must seriously give the authority to disclose past human rights violations. The Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) must have full support.

According to Syahrul, so far, the KKR institution in Aceh has not received full support from the government. This is evidenced by the fact that the TRC has not yet received a direct budget plot for the TRC but is still dependent on the Social Service for the operational budget for the Aceh TRC.

“This is an important matter. If Aceh fails, with all the special regulations and institutions that have been formed, likely, other places will also fail,” he said.

Therefore, Kontras Aceh and LBH Banda Aceh hope the government will resolve past human rights violations through reconciliation. If there is a concern, it will be resolved in the Human Rights Court.

 

Merdeka.com