This week, members of the Indonesian human rights commission, Komnas HAM, met with dozens of victims of the 1965-66 atrocities to discuss a continuing investigation of the mass killings. This followed the publication of a book with victims’ testimonies gathered in cooperation with ICTJ.

At least 500,000 people were killed in anti-communist purges led by General Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for the next 32 years. Fear of persecution and government censoring of books and media left this topic largely suppressed.

Recently, however, the purges have been the focus of books, seminars, and other public forums. Komnas HAM, together with ICTJ, has collected testimonies from 350 victims and is seeking stronger evidence—documents and photographs—to submit a formal report.

Usman Hamid of ICTJ's Indonesia Program argues that uncovering the truth is necessary to hold political leaders accountable. Many senior military officials—alleged to have taken part in killings—continue to resist efforts to uncover the truth about this dark chapter in Indonesia's past.

On Wednesday January 18, The New York Times featured a story about Komnas HAM’s efforts to document the abuses and gather more evidence that could potentially be used in cases against the perpetrators.

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Photo: Woman in a performance at the launch of “Breaking the Silence,” a collective memoir of victims of the anti-Communist purges in 1965-66.