On the occasion of the Fourth Congress of IKOHI, the other eleven member-organizations of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) congratulate all of you for your steadfastness in the continued search for truth and justice for your disappeared loved ones.

IKOHI’s members come from many generations of victims, dating back to the 1965-1966 massacres under the command of Gen. Suharto.  Many of you are still here and AFAD salutes your courage, determination and hope.  With your presence and support, whether big or small, few or far between, the succeeding generations are inspired to keep on with the struggle, for impunity still pervades in the country.

Indonesia now is at a very important juncture of its history towards a robust and genuinely participatory democracy. You have a new President that promises to address the human rights violations of the past, yet you have a Defense Minister and other officials surrounding your President who were key players of that dark past.  The challenge for IKOHI now is how to push for human rights reforms and justice under this new administration. 

Critical collaboration requires solid strength for you to be able to bargain. Thus, AFAD encourages you to be more active, to expand and solidify your ranks.  Engage the youth and other influence-wielding sectors in society to be supportive of our quest for justice. Be more creative and inclusive in your information dissemination campaigns that it will reach the broadest sections of society.

We, members from the eight countries – Bangladesh, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand, and Timor Leste and our Secretariat in the Philippines will always support you in solidarity as together we work towards attaining our vision of a world without disappearances.

In 2003, we were with you in your founding Congress.  Eleven long years later, AFAD is still and will always be with you for as long as the problem of enforced disappearances is never erased from the face of the earth.

May you be strengthened by our presence and be hopeful of the little victories we have achieved!

Signed and authenticated by:

KHURRAM PARVEZ

Chairperson

ANGKHANA NEELAPHAIJIT

Treasurer

MARY AILEEN DIEZ-BACALSO

Secretary General