A Statement of Condolence by the Asian Human Rights Commission

[Ed. Note: This statement was released on Oct. 10, 2002.]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is saddened to learn about the death of Ibu Sulami, a prominent human rights activist in Indonesia. Sulami passed away in Sragen in Central Java in the early hours of Oct. 9, 2002, at the age of 76.

Sulami devoted most of her life to fighting against injustices committed by the Suharto regime and especially to uncovering the perpetrators of the 1965-1966 massacre in Indonesia that resulted in more than one million deaths.

Sulami began her activist life in 1945 when she was involved in the Indonesian Women Youth Movement and subsequently trade unions. She held several important positions in the Indonesia Women's Movement; and in 1956, she was its vice secretary. After Suharto's military takeover and the massacres that followed in 1965-1966, Sulami was imprisoned in Bukit Duri Prison in Jakarta in 1967. She was a prisoner of conscience for 20 years until her release in 1987. In 1994, Sulami began her research into the 1965-1966 massacre in Boyolali, Purwodadi, Bopra, Mageland and Tumanggung. She initiated the creation of the Indonesian Institute for the Study of the 1965-1966 Massacre, or Yayasan Penelitian Korban Pembunuhan (YPKP), with other victims and survivors. YPKP currently has more than 110 branches in 14 provinces supporting more than 15, 000 victims. Sulami was awarded the Tji Hak-soon Human Rights Award in south Korea in 2002 as recognition of her work to seek justice for the victims of these crimes against humanity.

Sulami led a quite but defiant struggle under very difficult circumstances. Even in weak health and with threats to her life, she personally took part in the exhumation of several mass graves in the last few years. She has accomplished an incredible amount of work for both the women's movement and the movement of people seeking justice for Suharto's 1965-1966 crimes against humanity. She was a brilliant organiser and leader. Sulami will remain a legend in the minds and hearts of the people of Indonesia who fought for truth and justice. She was a woman very much in touch with the ordinary people, thus gaining their support. Sulami's life will remain an inspiration to the human rights movement in Asia, especially to the women's human rights movement. Sulami leaves behind a legacy of activism in the most difficult of circumstances and an active movement of people to continue the monumental tasks she initiated. In this sad moment, we cannot do better than to pledge to continue the struggle initiated by Sulami until complete and real justice is attained for the cause for which she fought.

In closing, AHRC wishes to express its admiration for the work and dedication of this great human rights activist's life and commitment to justice. AHRC pays tribute with great respect and humility to this legendary woman activist of our time. AHRC conveys its deep condolences on behalf of many human rights groups and activists in this region to the family, relatives and fellow activists of Ibu Sulami in Indonesia.