Editorial photo #10922102 Social Issue
The 17th Anniversary Of The Aksi Kamisan (Thursdays Protest)
Indonesian police are guarding a demonstration known as the Aksi Kamisan or Thursdays Protest in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 18, 2024. The Kamisan, derived from Kamis meaning Thursday, is a peaceful demonstration 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 meeting there. The protest is bringing together people connected 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 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 bear slogans. The umbrellas are not only serving 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 is concluding with the delivery of a letter addressed to the President and a prayer. (Photo by Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto)
