Aksi Kamisan: A Collective Movement to Preserve Memory

Aksi Kamisan, which was initially only attended by three people, was able to spread a sense of solidarity to other victims' families, and has now been held in 50 cities throughout Indonesia. Aksi Kamisan is not only attended by families of victims, but also by young people, both students and students. The widespread participation and involvement of the community in Aksi Kamisan also signifies people's concern and awareness of the importance of human rights issues. In addition, Aksi Kamisan has become a kind of collective movement in preserving the memory of the State's arbitrariness towards its citizens in the past. Not only that, this solidarity action has become a space for learning and political education for the community. As stated by Bivitri Susanti, an academic as well as a legal expert, through her writing, "Aksi Kamisan is more than a demonstration about human rights violations. It has become political education aboutcivic virtue, by directly practicing citizens' activities in defending their freedoms and rights that should be fulfilled and protected by the state". Aksi Kamisan, which has been going on for 17 years, also dispels the accusation that the action is only a 5-year action or appears before the election. In fact, the action is not an action to bring down certain figures or groups, but a peaceful action that only expects justice and seriousness from the state to resolve cases of human rights violations. And, unfortunately, there are still many people who swallow raw narratives that reduce the struggle of victims' families to gain access to justice. Narratives that state that the action is being ridden, getting envelopes, and so on. Accusations that are completely unfounded and never proven. In any case, Aksi Kamisan will continue to exist as long as justice is not felt by all groups and its participants will continue to multiply until the State is able to fulfill its obligations.