Editorial photo #10922101 Social Issue

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

Participants are opening umbrellas, a distinctive feature of the Kamisan demonstration, across from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 18, 2024. Kamisan, named after Kamis (Thursday), is a peaceful protest that has been taking place every Thursday since January 18, 2007, in front of the Presidential Palace. Families of victims of atrocities committed before, during, and after the fall of Suharto in 1998 are gathering there. The protest is uniting 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. Today, Kamisan has become a symbol of the national struggle against past and present impunity, with strong participation from the youth. Human rights organizations and relatives of the victims are wearing black clothes, carrying photographs of the victims, and holding black umbrellas that may bear slogans. The umbrellas are not only for protection from the sun and rain but also symbolize protection and the strength of faith. This regular protest is also occurring in other parts of the country. While initially a silent protest, Kamisan now includes the reading of declarations, music, and other cultural expressions. Each meeting is concluding with the delivery of a letter to the President and a prayer. (Photo by Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto)