Jakarta – The mass rapes during the May 1998 riots in Jakarta accompanying the wave of demands for reformasi or political reform that that brought down the New Order regime (Orba) of former president Suharto, has again become the subject of discussion recently.

This is tied to the history rewriting project initiated by the government through the Ministry of Culture under the leadership of the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon. The polemic began following a media interview in which Zon said there was no evidence of violence against women, specifically mass rapes during the 1998 affair.

Sharon Muller – Terror against Papuan students has again been launched in several cities around Indonesia. This time round it has been through the delivery of packages containing rotten animal carcasses, threatening letters, the distribution of posters and videos as well as other threats.

This is not a new pattern. Only this time, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the intensity of the attacks has increased dramatically.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition against Impunity interrupted a working meeting between Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Wednesday July 2.

A number of coalition members unfurled banners containing their demands from balcony overlooking the working meeting. The banners contain their opposition of the Indonesian history rewrite project being undertaken by the Ministry of Culture.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) wishes the Polri (National Police) a happy 79th anniversary and will continue to encourage improvements and reforms to the police of the Republic of Indonesia so that they are professionals who firmly uphold the Constitution as a state institution that fully guarantees the principles of a democratic constitutional state, and guarantees respect, protection and the fulfilment of human rights (the constitutional rights of citizens) without becoming a tool of power and capital.

On its 79th anniversary, the National Police took up the theme "The National Police with the People". The National Police Public Relations Division distributed a public service advertisement using artificial intelligence (AI) depicting a winged police officer helping the community. In the video, the National Police stated that "The police are modern heroes". "Without a robe, without the spotlight, they stand at the forefront, protecting the community from all forms of crime and danger." When compared to everyday reality however, this image is ironic because in fact is that the police along with those in power and owners of capital are often the actors who violate the rights of the ordinary people.