JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Days before Indonesia's 80th Independence Day, protesters last week in Jakarta gathered to voice concern over the government's efforts to reshape the nation's official history through state-sponsored textbooks, and to demand accountability for activists who have been missing since 1998.
Indonesia marked Independence Day on Sunday, but the Kamisan protesters underscored that true freedom is incomplete without justice, accountability and an honest reckoning with the nation's past.
"This is not just a regular peaceful action. This is part of our commitment as a civil society when we show up every week here," Nutrina Savitri said. "It shows we are not afraid, you [the government] might repress us, but we will not back up."
Every Thursday afternoon since Jan. 18, 2007, protesters have gathered in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta. They plan to continue their weekly day of action until the government addresses and resolves past cases of human rights abuses in Indonesia.
The demonstration by those affiliated with the Kamisan Movement was just one of more than 900 national weekly protests, also known as "Kamisan," That is derived from the Indonesian word "Kamis," which means Thursday. Kamisan refers to something that happens on Thursdays.
