ABSTRACT
With the trend towards reformasi spreading throughout Indonesia, there have been a number of changes in the way human rights abuses are being handled and in the management of the humanitarian agenda. This can be seen in a number of decisions initiated by Abdurrahman Wahid since he was elected President of Indonesia in 1999. Wahid formed a Human Rights Ministry within his cabinet, and there have been efforts to uphold the law. The political decision has been made to bring an end to human rights abuses through investigation, and a Commission of Inquiry into Violations (KPP HAM) has been set up to investigate cases of human rights abuses in a number of regions of Indonesia. Important positions in the civilian bureaucracy that were held throughout the New Order by military officials, such as Attorney General, have now been given to civilians. However, at the lower levels the steps taken by the government have not yet resulted in the cessation of human rights abuses in Indonesia. In particular, these efforts have not brought about an end to the long conflict in Aceh.
