Gilang used to be a street musician in Solo, Central Java, and he was active in the pro-democracy movement there. The last time his mother saw him, she gave him permission to move to another city, where he had been offered a job. They did not have a chance to talk again before Gilang was found dead two days later. The case has never been investigated nor brought to trial. Both Gilang’s parents, Fatah and Budiarti, work as tailors in Solo

Gilang’s parents, Fatah (left) and Budiarti (right). Gilang was a street musician, and he was deeply involved in    political activism. He was killed during the 1998 uprising. The reason for Gilang’s death is still not clear.    He disappeared two days before being found dead.

These families have waited ten years for the murders and disappearances to be subjected to a proper legal process. With past abuses like this still unresolved, it is obvious Indonesia is still in transition to democracy. Granted, the road to justice is long and hard. But the painful past should be remembered, not covered over or swept aside. The families of disappeared and murdered activists deserve appreciation and support. These photographs are meant as a small effort to honor them.     ii

Henry Ismail (henri.ismail@gmail.com) was born in Jakarta. He studied political science in his graduate study. He learned photography through night classes at Cultureel Centrum TU Delft, The Netherlands and by attending several workshops in The Netherlands, Spain and Indonesia. His work focuses on issues such as poverty, street children, LGBT groups, and human rights.

See also The endless wait - Families of the disappeared are still searching for answers (ii73: Jan-Mar 2003).

More of Henri Ismail's Photo-essays can be found on his own web gallery at http://ismail.smugmug.com