23-Year Fight for Justice
Her eldest son, Bernardus Realino Norma Irmawan, aka Wawan, was shot dead by security personnel in the incident known as the Semanggi I Tragedy on 13 November 1998.
When visited, Maria Katarina Sumarsih, 69, showed no hurt feelings for the loss of her eldest son who was shot in the Semanggi I incident, 13 November 1998. She looked resolute and strong; her spirit to fight for justice aflame.
“The passing of Wawan changed my life. However, my recollection of the struggle of Wawan and his peers, the six agendas of reform, including the supremacy of law, makes me realize the need to continue fighting, overcoming exhaustion,” said Sumarsih in her house on Wednesday (5/5/2021).
Her eldest son, Bernardus Realino Norma Irmawan, aka Wawan, was shot dead by security personnel in the incident known as the Semanggi I Tragedy on 13 November 1998. At the time, Wawan was a third-year economics student at Atma Jaya University, Jakarta. With his son’s demise, for almost 23 years, Sumarsih has never ceased fighting. She seems to have never lost her spirit in spite of the devious challenges she is facing.
Also read: We are not Alone, so We are Strong
Since 2007, along with the Victims’ Solidarity Network for Justice (JSKK), Sumarsih and Suciwati, widow of rights advocate Munir, have organized Thursday actions in front of the Merdeka Palace. To date, the Thursday activities have taken place more than 600 times.
Her deep love of her child empowers her to keep resisting fear and fatigue for the sake of upholding justice.
Sumarsih seems to serve as the symbol of courage and consistence of a mother in the pursuit of justice. Her deep love of her child empowers her to keep resisting fear and fatigue for the sake of upholding justice. Furthermore, she also cherishes her dream of making Indonesia a democratic constitutional state as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution, which appreciates human rights.
“Family affection can bring about enthusiasm and hope. When we feel affection for Wawan, the grief in the family can transform into compassion for fellow humans so that we can fight together for justice. This creates fervor in our whole family,” she said.
Rights issue
Sumarsih’s understanding of the issue of rights and democracy was not spontaneous. Although she has worked for 24 years as a state civil servant with the Secretariat General of the House of Representatives (DPR), she was originally unfamiliar with the issue.
Also read: Steep Road in Fulfilling the Promise of ‘Reformasi’ in 1998
It was when she strived to seek justice over her son’s death that she taught herself about rights issues. She became involved in various rights advocacy activities with civil society groups campaigning for rights and democracy. Gradually, her comprehension of law, rights and democracy improved.
She was also supported by her husband, Arief Priyadi, a researcher with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). On the bookshelves in the sitting room of her house are rows of books on rights and democracy.
“When Wawan was alive, he would talk about the six agendas of reform even at the dining table. He was always describing the dynamism of his struggle along with his fellow student activists. As I remember this, I want to keep striving for the third agenda of reform, which is the supremacy of law,” said Sumarsih.
Sumarsih revealed that when delivering routine letters to the President on Thursdays, she had always indicated that the thorough settlement of the 1998 student shooting case would be a barometer of law enforcement and rights fulfilment in Indonesia. Moreover, the agenda was also part of the campaign pledge and working program of President Joko Widodo in 2014 known as Nawacita (nine priorities). Under the Nawacita, the President is committed to thoroughly resolve serious rights violations in order to eliminate impunity.
Also read: Waiting for the President’s Promises
The fight to put an end to impunity is normally carried out in countries searching for an established form of democracy. An example is Argentina with its movement “The Mothers of The Plaza de Mayo”. Mothers gather and walk with diapers on their heads bearing the names of their children who went missing and were allegedly killed by the authoritarian regime of 1976-1983.
A number of military officers were tried and the government of Argentina formed a national commission for missing persons.
After a 29-year struggle, their goal was finally achieved in line with Argentina’s change to become more democratic and uphold human rights. A number of military officers were tried and the government of Argentina formed a national commission for missing persons.
“I will also die sometime later. But I hope the legal process of this student shooting case becomes a future guarantee that no serious rights violations will recur. It’s to ensure that no more groups or people are immune to the law,” said Sumarsih.
Sumarsih claimed she had enjoyed ample moral and material support from civil society groups advocating rights and democracy. They are always behind Sumarsih whenever she faces obstacles. An example is when she filed a lawsuit against the statement of Attorney General ST Burhanuddin at a hearing with the DPR that the Semanggi I and Semanggi II incidents were not serious rights violations.
Also read: Families of 1998 Victims Refuse to Give up
Along with Ho Kim Ngo, the mother of Yap Yun Hap, a University of Indonesia student who was killed in Semanggi II, she sued the attorney general for his statement at the State Administrative Court (PTUN). In the first instance, her suit was granted. The attorney general was regarded as having committed a breach of the law. Yet at the court of appeal her suit was defeated. Now she is filing a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court (MA).
Remembering the attorney general’s statement still hurts Sumarsih’s feelings. It is because the Attorney General’s Office is the key actor in the total legal settlement of serious rights violation cases. Even so, the attorney general’s statement at the DPR hearing was just opposed to investigation results of the National Human Rights Commission.
It seems that the attorney general is just countering the families of serious rights violation victims. In fact, President Joko Widodo has always asked the attorney general to thoroughly resolve grave rights violation cases. On several occasions, President Joko Widodo has kept making known the commitment.
“The attorney general should feel embarrassed for opposing common people who are aged, already with grey hair,” remarked Sumarsih.
Now Sumarsih also frequently attends sessions of advocacy of serious rights violation cases like the one in Talangsari, Lampung. She is often invited as a resource person to share her experience.
Also read: Public Doubt Overshadows the Government
In social media, Sumarsih is also among influential figures. Her Twitter account, @Sumarsih11, has 8,502 followers. She is sharing information, redistributing it and answering questions around the rights issue. In this Covid-19 pandemic period when Thursday actions are provisionally done at home, the social media account is an effective means of information dissemination.
Anyway, human rights constitute the basic foundation of a democratic state.
Sumarsih hopes the public will better understand rights issues so that the need for rights appreciation no longer becomes a distant matter in society. Anyway, human rights constitute the basic foundation of a democratic state. These were the aspirations previously fought for by her son and are currently sounded out by Sumarsih for the coming generation.
Maria Katarina Sumarsih
Born: Rogomulyo village, Semarang regency, 5 May 1952
Husband: AMJ Arief Priyadi
Children:
- Bernardus Realino Norma Irmawan (deceased)
- Benedicta Rosalia Irma Normaningsih
Education: State Economics High School Salatiga
Award: Yap Thiam Hien Award (2004)
(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)