Victims of alleged human rights violations from across the country have sent more than 1,000 letters to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to demand that he protect and uphold justice. “Justice is dying a death, which is the main reason why we wrote to the president,” said one victim, Adnan, in a statement titled “1,000 victims’ letters; 1,000 hopes for ignored humanity,” read out at a recent rally. About 50 victims of alleged rights abuses gathered to attend the event in Jakarta organized by the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS, http://www.kontras.org). The 1,000 letters means 1,000 expressions, 1,000 broken hearts, 1,000 disappointments, and 1,000 hopes of victims of and their families, Adnan said. “The 1,000 letters also mean 1,000 moral messages for the president. Violence against humanity is taking place in this country. Thousands of victims and their families are waiting for their rights to be given back to them,” he added. Through the letters, he continued, victims want to tell the president that he must take concrete steps to stop and punish human rights violations for the sake of the nation’s dignity. “The 1,000 letters express our hopes for humanity. With our Independence Day approaching, we ask the president to recognize justice and truth and give us back our rights which were taken from us a long time ago,” Adnan said. KontraS’ coordinator Haris Azhar said the victims wrote the letters because the president did not respond to appeals they made a year ago. He also said the letters will be read out during Independence Day celebrations on August 17. END Related Reports: Police ‘commit most rights violations’Papuans get support against police Violence victims hold weekly vigils in Jakarta
