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The 17th Anniversary Of The Aksi Kamisan (Thursdays Protest)

Photos of past victims of severe human rights violations are being displayed during the Kamisan in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 18, 2024. Kamisan, derived from Kamis (Thursday), is a peaceful demonstration that has been held every Thursday since January 18, 2007, in front of the Presidential Palace. Families of victims of the atrocities committed before, during, and after the fall of Suharto in 1998 are meeting there. The protest brings together people related to several cases of human rights violations, including the mass crimes of 1965-1966, the enforced disappearance of human rights activists in 1997-1998, and more recent cases such as the assassination of activist Munir Said Thalib in 2004. Kamisan has become a symbol of the national struggle against the impunity of the past and the present, with strong participation from young people. Human rights organizations and the relatives of the victims are wearing black clothes, carrying photographs of the victims, and holding black umbrellas that may have slogans. The umbrellas not only serve to protect from the sun and rain but also represent the protection and strength of faith. This regular protest is also taking place in other parts of the country. While Kamisan was initially conceived as a silent protest, the demonstration now includes the regular reading of declarations, as well as music and other cultural manifestations. Each meeting concludes with the delivery of a letter addressed to the President and a prayer. (Photo by Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto)

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