Historical Justice and the Case of the 1965 Killings

Abstract

In transitions from authoritarian to democratic societies, efforts to deal with human rights claims relating to past cases of state violence and associated justice measures are generally at the forefront of societal and governmental agendas. Yet in the case of the post Soeharto Indonesia, demands for historical justice for the 1965 killings and imprisonments continue to meet strong resistance. Using recent examples of Indonesian activism relating to this case, I examine the connection between historical justice for this case and Indonesian democratization more broadly. Using the fiftieth anniversary of the violence as a point of reflection, I analyze the increasing emphasis in activism on demanding an end to impunity for past human rights crimes and the increasingly defiant positions of government, military, and religious officials toward this case.