Rights activists disappointed with Jokowi

JAKARTA. Human rights activists have expressed doubt over president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s willingness to resolve past human rights abuse cases once he takes office.

Deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Chrisbiantoro claimed that Jokowi lacked the conviction necessary to deal with past rights abuse cases.

He said that one of the indications of Jokowi’s lack of commitment was the fact that human rights issues had not been discussed by members of his transition team.

“There has not been a task force established to deal with this issue. We have heard nothing about what the team would do about problems left by the previous administration,” Chrisbiantoro said, as quoted by kompas.com.

Rights groups have previously criticized Jokowi for his decision to appoint former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. (ret) A. M. Hendropriyono as an advisor to the transition team.

Hendropriyono is alleged to have played a role in the murder of Munir Said Thalib, a prominent human rights campaigner.