Usman Hamid : The Human Rights Activist

The name of Usman Hamid is familiar with human rights activists. He is known as the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, The 6th May 1976 born guy is one of the figures of Indonesia's reformation in the late 90s.

The Struggle of Usman's defense of human rights began when he served as the chairman of the student senate Faculty of Law at Trisakti University back in 1998-1999. At the end of his studies, the guy born in Jakarta is actively involved along with the Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) to investigate the shooting incident of Trisakti students on 12th May 1998.

22 years after the reformation, the guy who had finished the master's study at The Australian National University is still consistently fighting for human rights in Indonesia.

Trisakti, where it all begins

‘It started with my father and mother's different wishes. My father wanted me to enter a boarding school and become a religious figure, while my mother wanted me to go to an open school. Shortly after, my father died when I was in the second grade of junior high school. Making music is my escape to get rid of sadness because I like to do bands so I have a band studio.’ Said him.

Shortly after, he ended up register at Trisakti University because the campus is close to Usman's home. Started as a Law student and the rest is history.

The moment he decided to be an activist

‘At that moment there was an economic situation that made it difficult for my mother's recitation congregation. From cooking oil to the rice. Then continued with many informal discussions. Start asking why this is happening and what can be done for society.’ Said Usman.

Usman Hamid's parent's background was political figures. Eventually, his mom and his friends from college started to do some social activities. Usman's restlessness comes from the activities he routinely does with his friends.

How he struggles during the reformation 

‘I may be the generation that comes later. I say that because there used to be two models of resistance. Some showed themselves to be open opposition to Soeharto's side, this group that was recently affiliated with opposition political parties. There are also those like me, namely moral movements which are more of a kind of social force that straighten out what deviates from Soeharto.’ Said him.

The approach taken by Usman and his colleagues is softer. They try to channel the aspirations of activists to the general students. In the end, he took part in the demonstration on May 8th, 1998, during which more than 3,000 students participated in the demonstration.

Then on May 12th they again descended with more than 5,000 demonstrators, which ended with the Trisakti shooting incident.

After the Reformation, now and then

22 years after the reformation, Usman is still concerning himself as a human rights activist. This is why he still on his way to defend human rights in Indonesia.

‘The meeting I felt with the families of the students who died. One of them is Ibu Karsiah, the mother of Hendrian Sie. He was an only child who had been raised and his mother hoped that his son could change the life of the family, but he died. Well, just like sensitivity.

There was a sense of life in me, so I kept up with their meetings. I recently met the victim's family, then I thought again. Our work is not finished, our journey is long, but there is still no enough result we want.’ Stated him.

The future of human rights in Indonesia

‘It is getting harder, I imagine after 22 years of reform how the human rights agenda will be put. In the past, because of the era of isolation, human rights became a kind of utopia where there is an ideal life that is imagined, opinions can be conveyed without any fear from the people.’ Said Usman.

The presence and responsibility of the state for past human rights crimes or preventing the same thing from happening is Usman Hamid's hope for human rights in Indonesia in the future. In conclusion, human rights politics is very difficult to overcome, so the integrity of the state is needed to solve it fairly.

- Muh. Faydht At-Tharieq