The Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) on Wednesday (28/11/2018) held a Testimony Hearing Meeting for victims of the conflict in Aceh that occurred from 1976 to 2005.

This is the first trial held by the Aceh TRC and the first DK session to be held in Indonesia.

Aceh TRC chairman Afridal Darmi said the RDK was held for two consecutive days by presenting 14 victims of alleged past human rights violations in Aceh.

Witnessed by the Aceh TRC Commissioner and more than 200 participants from various walks of life, representatives from government agencies, and foreign delegates, the victims spoke about the events they experienced, the impact they have felt so far, and hopes for the fulfillment of a sense of justice for all. They.

The atmosphere was filled with emotion as the victims shared their bad experiences. Starting from the sense of trauma that is still there to moderate to severe physical disability they show when giving testimony.

The victims' witnesses gave testimonies in front of the Aceh TRC Commissioner and guests at the RDK.

Afridal Darmi said before the victim was presented to give his testimony, the Aceh TRC Commissioner, who sat opposite the victim, first read the rules.

In the regulation, the points emphasized are aimed at visitors and journalists who are covering not to take pictures, photos, and videos and not to quote the victim's statement and disseminate the victim's direct statement in any media.

"Journalists as well as all guests present are not allowed to take pictures or videos and also cannot quote statements from victims who testify directly. This is done to anticipate the possibility of something bad happening," said the Chair of the Aceh TRC, Afridal Darni, when opening the Hearing of Testimonies Wednesday (11/28/2018).

Afridal Darmi said that the 2018 RDK is a form of the open statement taken as part of the truth-telling mechanism.

Until October 2018, the Aceh TRC had taken direct statements to victims and witnesses in 5 districts/cities, namely Aceh Besar, Pidie, North Aceh, Bener Meriah, and South Aceh.

The results of taking statements have been documented in the period December 2017-July 2018, resulting in 700 statement documents.

“This Testimony Hearing Meeting also aims to educate the public to know the truth about the factors causing the alleged past human rights violations in Aceh, to obtain public recognition for witnesses/victims for alleged past human rights violations in Aceh, as well as to facilitate social recovery and rehabilitation for witnesses. / victims of alleged past human rights violations in Aceh who have given their testimonies,” he said.

The RDK was officially opened by the Governor of Aceh, represented by Assistant I of the Regional Secretary of the Aceh Province, Dr. M Jafar SH M.Hum.

He conveyed that the Aceh government's support for the DRC this time was a way to provide space for victims and witnesses to tell their stories.

“The Aceh government also hopes that the DRC will have a positive impact in efforts to reveal the truth in Aceh, such as encouraging victims to dare to appear in public spaces in telling their stories, and re-stimulating memories of past events, and to get public support for efforts to extract information about the truth of the past,” said M Jafar.

Hopefully, through the DRC, peace in Aceh can be maintained sustainably and equitably for the victims. (Kompas.com)

Serambi Indonesia