As countries reckon with their past atrocities, governments are increasingly considering reparations for victims of political persecution. In an effort to make amends and offer compensation for those who have lost so much, some governments are taking the first steps toward mapping the location and identities of exiles in order to provide restitution. This effort will be a significant step toward healing past injustices and creating a more equitable society for all. In this article, we explore the trend and what it means for the future of political reparations.
The Indonesian Law and Human Rights Ministry has announced that it will be starting a mapping process to determine the number of political exiles currently residing abroad who are eligible for citizenship restoration. This follows the decree passed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo aimed at resolving past human rights abuses, which calls for more measures to be taken to address the plight of political exiles.
The ministry’s directorate general for human rights will be executing Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 2/2023 in order to administer the implementation of the decree, specifically by conducting a comprehensive data collection process of individuals without Indonesian citizenship who were exiled due to political reasons. The mapping process is expected to identify the total number of political exiles who previously held Indonesian citizenship and are currently living abroad, providing a clear picture of the scope of the issue.
The Ministry also noted that this mapping will facilitate the Indonesian government’s efforts to restore citizenship to those impacted exiles who are eligible for reinstatement, as per the regulations and laws in place. The government will work closely with the relevant agencies and authorities in order to address each case on an individual basis.
The initiative aims to address the injustice suffered by political exiles who were forced to leave their country due to political reasons, and in particular, those who have been stripped of their citizenship, thereby sustaining significant losses in terms of basic rights and privileges such as education, employment and healthcare.
According to Manusia Tanpa Batas Foundation (MTB), which focuses on the right of political exiles from a human rights standpoint, there are approximately 200 Indonesian political exiles in 28 countries around the world, with some living in countries without a specific status or protection. These exiles have long been advocating for the Indonesian government to ameliorate their situation by restoring their citizenship and enabling their return to the country, but so far their efforts have been obstructed by legal obstacles and bureaucracy.
The Indonesian government has previously taken some steps to address the issue of political exiles, having granted citizenship to around 740 individuals in 2018. However, more needs to be done to provide alternatives for those still living in exile or those without citizenship in order to ensure that their rights are protected.
This recent mapping process is a welcome step towards addressing this issue, as it provides a strong foundation to identify those impacted by the lack of citizenship and to assess the specific needs of each case. It is hoped that this initiative will provide a pathway towards the restoration of fundamental rights and justice to those that have been deprived of it, while also laying the groundwork for more robust policies addressing the plight of political exiles in Indonesia in the future.
Overall, the Indonesian government’s actions towards addressing human rights abuses and providing redress and justice to victims is a positive sign towards ensuring a more equitable and fair society for all.
