Jakarta, June 3, 2003
MS. MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO
Secretary General of AFAD
Manila, the Philippines
And other AFAD Members
MS. DING ZILIN
Leader
Tiananmen Mothers
Beijing, China
And other Tiananmen Mothers
Dear Ms. Ding Zilin,
Warmest greetings from the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI) and the Commission for the Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS)!
First of all, we would like express our support and solidarity for the continuous and never-give up struggles of the Tiananmen Mothers for the last 14 years. The Tiananmen Massacre for us in Indonesia is a fresh evidence of the brutality of a regime in suppressing democratic movement in the name of national security and stability. We in Indonesia have such several cases, also in the name of guaranteeing national stability and security. We are the victims of all those brutal repression of our governments. It is in this context that we have to support each other, be hand in hand in the struggle for demanding the responsibility of the state, and justice for all of us.
For this regards, we thank to AFAD. Without it, we are hardly in touch, let alone in solidarity and support to each other. Without it, we hardly know what has happened and what the people like us are doing in China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Kashmir of India and other part of the world, let alone to unite to fight together.
In this time, in the Ivory (14th) Anniversary of the Massacre in Tiananmen Square of Beijing where hundreds are injured, tortured, dead, and even disappeared, as well as in the Wooden Anniversary of our Federation, AFAD, we from Indonesia express our supports and solidarity with your struggles, and particularly your demands to the Chinese Authority in form of:
- An investigatory committee consisting of recognized and respected representatives from all sectors of society should be set up to investigate the June Fourth incident independently and justly. The findings and results of the investigation should be made public. The names and numbers of the dead, the injured and the disappeared should be revealed.
- The government agencies concerned should give an account of the dead, injured and the disappeared to the victims or their families. If the disappeared are dead, their remains should be returned to their families. If the remains have been destroyed, their families should be given a proper account of what happened and why.
- The National Peoples Congress should enact legislation to provide redress for the victims and their families, including awarding them appropriate compensation.
- In accordance with the law, the procuratorate concerned should initiate an investigation into the June Fourth incident so that the perpetrators of the crimes committed may be held legally accountable.
For our Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), we congratulate you for your Wooden (5th) Anniversary. There are still so many tasks to do. There are still so many efforts to do to end the practices of the heinous crimes of involuntary disappearances. There are still so many efforts for strengthening ourseves to break and put impunity to the corner of history.
At last, we congratulate you both for your strength and reassure you of our continuing friendship and solidarity!
More power to the Tiananmen Mothers and AFAD!
In solidarity,
Mugiyanto
Chairman of IKOHI
Ori Rahman
Coordinator of KONTRAS
c.c. AFAD Council Members and Disparitions mailing lists and other contacts of ours
IKATAN KELUARGA ORANG HILANG INDONESIA (IKOHI )
INDONESIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIES OF THE DISAPPEARED
Jl. Cisadane No. 9, Jakarta Pusat 10320
Telp./Fax.: 021-3901978/3141484, Email: kembalikan@yahoo.com
