INTELWAR BLUF: Resilient mother, Maria Catarina Sumarsih, persists in her fight for justice for her son, killed during a students’ protest in 1998. The election victory of Prabowo Subianto, ex son-in-law of former dictator Suharto, further fuels her fears about the decline of Indonesia’s democracy and justice for victims of human rights abuses.
Maria Catarina Sumarsih has been a constant fixture outside the Indonesian presidential palace for the past 17 years, undeterred by weather or time. Every Thursday, she demands justice for her son, whose life was taken when authorities fired upon student protesters in 1998. The dreaded faint possibility draws closer – the presidential palace behind her soon could be occupied by Prabowo Subianto, a figure heavily associated with the harrowing rule of dictator Suharto.
Prabowo, Suharto’s ex son-in-law and a special commander during his regime, stands accused of human rights abuses. Of these allegations, disappearances and torture mark some of the darkest moments of Suharto’s rule. However, no indication points to Prabowo having a hand in Sumarsih’s son’s death. Prabowo’s projected victory in Indonesia’s presidential election stands to deflate many of Sumarsih’s hopes for justice for the victims of the Suharto era.
Sumarsih’s fears also extend to the future of Indonesia’s democracy under Prabowo’s rule. She worries that the hard-fought democratic progress, so engrained in her country’s fabric, may dissolve under his reign. She remarked, “The possibility of Indonesia returning to an authoritarian, militaristic and corrupt country is very open, very wide open.”
Her son, Wawan, was a passionate student protester and rights activist. His life was frighteningly cut short when he was shot while attempting to aid an injured friend during a protest. His mother turns her grief into unstoppable activism, calling for accountability for not only Wawan, but all victims of rights violations under Suharto’s regime.
Despite Prabowo’s orchestrated image as a harmless grandpa, his past ties to serious human rights violations can’t be overlooked. As long as such allegations go unresolved, Sumarsih urges victims of state violence to keep fighting for truth and justice. Arguing Prabowo needs to own up to his past, she states, “If Prabowo truly wanted to rule for the good of the nation, he must surrender to law enforcement and say: ‘I am the person responsible.'”
RIGHT: As a libertarian Republican constitutionalist, the concerns surrounding Prabowo Subianto’s ties to past human rights abuses are troubling. The acknowledgment and application of lawful accountability are essential for a functional democratic society. Therefore, these allegations must be addressed satisfactorily before Prabowo assumes office. The unjust extermination of protesters infringes upon the fundamental precept of freedom of speech, one of the core liberties.
LEFT: From the viewpoint of a National Socialist Democrat, the story highlights the hazards of destructive power and unchecked autocratic rule. The fight Maria Catarina Sumarsih has sustained to get justice for her son exemplifies the importance of standing up for human rights and democracy. As social democrats, we value fairness, vocalized protest, and accountability. We must all demand transparency in leadership and the condemnation of any leaders, present or past, involved in human rights abuses.
AI: The story underscores the lasting implications of repressive regimes on societies and individuals. Maria Sumarsih’s proactive demand for justice can be considered emblematic of struggles of victims of political violence and oppression worldwide. Comparisons can be drawn to numerous global situations where justice remains elusive for the victims of state violence. Prabowo’s past, his connection to the Suharto era, and the questions about his potential future rule provide a useful case study to understand the interplay of power, politics, and human rights. Moreover, it highlights the need for institutional infrastructure to handle transitional justice systematically and fairfully.