Findings of Bones in Rumoh Geudong Could Add Evidence to Allegations of Serious Human Rights Violations

In connection with the discovery of these bones, Komnas HAM expressed a number of views that are important for the government to pay attention to.

"The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security and the Aceh and Pidie District Governments are urged to maintain the findings by considering the possibility of the evidence's relevance to the Rumoh Geudong Incident," said the Chairman of the Follow-up Team for Serious Human Rights Violation Investigation Results of National Commission on Human Rights, Abdul Haris Semendawai, in a press statement in Jakarta on Thursday (March 28, 2024).

Also read: Rumoh Geudong and Efforts to Build a Collective National Memory

The location of the construction of the Memorial Living Park Rumoh Geudong was one of the Sattis Posts during the implementation of military operations (DOM) in Aceh from 1989-1998. Based on the investigation results of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Rumoh Geudong was the site of severe human rights violations during that period.

"Attorney General as an investigator of serious human rights violations to carry out forensic tests, including DNA tests, to confirm the identity of the victim and his remaining family," said Abdul Haris.

Komnas HAM also urged the government to open up space for victims, their families, and the public to be able to access information on the findings as a fulfillment of the victims' right to know the truth.

Also read: 27 Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations in Rumoh Geudong Question Clarity of Status

The development of the Living Park Memorial at the location of severe human rights abuses is undoubtedly important. However, according to the National Commission on Human Rights, it must be carried out with caution due to the possibility of other evidence in the development area.

The Attorney General, as the investigator of serious human rights violations, must conduct forensic tests, including DNA tests, to ensure the identity of the victim with their surviving relatives.

When contacted from Jakarta, Friday (29/3/2024), Director of Aceh (Paska) Socio-Economic Activity Development Farida Haryani agreed with Komnas HAM's position regarding the discovery of human bones at the construction site of the Rumoh Geudong Living Park Memorial. must be secured because it can add evidence to the investigative files of alleged serious human rights violations there.

Farida hopes that the construction of the living memorial park is not a systematic effort by the state to remove evidence in severe human rights violation cases that have not yet been legally processed by the Attorney General. She also urged the Indonesian National Police to send a forensic team to identify the bones recently found in Rumoh Geudong.

Also read: The Long Wait for Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations

According to Farida, this is urgent and important to do because it can add evidence to the investigation files of the National Commission on Human Rights regarding the alleged serious human rights violations case in the location.

"Until now, Komnas HAM's investigation files related to Rumoh Geudong have always been rejected by the Attorney General. If the findings are secured and forensically analyzed by the police, the families of the missing persons can also match DNA to reveal the identities of the missing persons during Aceh's DOM period," said Farida.

The Rumoh Geudong incident is one of dozens of cases of alleged gross human rights violations that have been investigated by Komnas HAM. When there was a DOM policy due to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebellion for 34 years, the post was used as a place for torture and even execution.

Also read: Rumoh Geudong, Location of Serious Human Rights Violations in Aceh

He also hopes that Komnas HAM will follow up on this case because it is the state's responsibility. "President Jokowi has even admitted that there were serious human rights violations at the kick off of the non-judicial settlement at the same location," said Farida.

Also read: State Admits Serious Human Rights Violations in 12 Past Incidents

He suspects systematic destruction of evidence of serious human rights violations by the state if the aspirations of the Aceh community are not met.

According to Farida, the current development is far from the history of Rumoh Geudong. The development planning does not involve the victims and the community. The community in the location finds it difficult to access the construction site of the project.