Touching Moment at the 929th Aksi Kamisan
A heartwarming moment unfolded during the 929th Aksi Kamisan, held at Taman Pandang in front of Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (10/15/2026). Gambir District Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agus Ady Wijaya came to greet the protesters who routinely demand resolution of past gross human rights violations.
On the occasion, Wijaya was seen performing sungkem — a traditional Javanese gesture of deep respect — to Sumarsih, mother of Bernardinus Realino Norma Irawan, known as Wawan, an Atma Jaya University student killed in the Semanggi I Tragedy on November 13, 1998. The moment continued with a warm embrace, and Sumarsih then offered a prayer for the police chief. A video of the encounter, posted by the Instagram account @polisigambir, has been widely shared on social media.
Who Is Sumarsih and What Is Aksi Kamisan
Sumarsih, or Maria Catarina Sumarsih, is the mother of Wawan, who was shot dead while trying to help another student during the 1998 Semanggi I Tragedy. Together with Suciwati (widow of slain human rights activist Munir Said Thalib) and Bedjo Untung (representing families of 1965 victims), she initiated Aksi Kamisan on January 18, 2007.
Aksi Kamisan is a silent protest held every Thursday afternoon in front of the State Palace. Participants, mostly families of victims of past gross human rights violations, stand with black umbrellas as a symbol of mourning, demanding the state resolve cases such as the Semanggi I and II tragedies, Trisakti, Talangsari, the murder of Munir, and the 1965-1966 tragedy.
19 Years of Demanding Justice
For nearly two decades, Aksi Kamisan has continued without interruption, outlasting changes of government. Sumarsih has summed up the victims' families' stance: "We do not want revenge. We only want the state to be present and acknowledge its mistakes."
The action's consistency has made it one of Indonesia's longest-running civil society movements, frequently cited as an inspiration for similar actions in other regions.
Public Response to the Heartwarming Moment
The video of Wijaya's meeting with Sumarsih drew largely positive responses from netizens. Many praised the police chief's sungkem gesture as a sign of respect for the struggle of mothers of human rights violation victims. Aksi Kamisan is scheduled to be held again next Thursday, as always, in front of Merdeka Palace.
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