Maria Catarina Sumarsih

Maria Catarina Sumarsih (born 5 May 1952) is an Indonesian human rights activist, civil servant, and teacher known as the pioneer of Aksi Kamisan.

She is the mother of Bernardus Realino Norma Irawan, a former Faculty of Economics student at Atma Jaya Catholic University, who died during Semanggi shootings.

Sumarsih was born on 5 May 1952 in Central Java, Indonesia.

She graduated from SMEA Negeri Salatiga.

This action is held every Thursday in front of the Merdeka Palace wearing all black clothes and is inspired by the movement of mothers of victims of human rights violations in Argentina during the Dirty War from 1976 until 1983.

Aksi Kamisan also demanded that the governments of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jokowi to resolve cases of human rights violations but never received a response.

During Prabowo Subianto's appointment as Ministry of Defence, Sumarsih demanded that Jokowi cancel the inauguration due to Prabowo's involvement as a perpetrator of human rights violations and the kidnapping of 13 activists.

She also said that Wiranto, Prabowo's superior who at that time served as ABRI Commander, involved in the Semanggi shootings due to mobilized demonstrations against the students.

On 18 January 2024, during the 17th anniversary of Aksi Kamisan, Sumarsih gave a speech together along with Abdur Arsyad, Eko Prasetyo, Karlina Supelli, and Faisal Basri, to demand resolution of cases of human rights violations in the past.

The anniversary was attended by representatives from the Indonesian Corruption Watch organization, the ICJR Association, Amnesty and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).

Sumarsih is married to Arief Priyadi on 5 December 1976.

Sumarsih started to work as a teacher at SMP Budi Murni after moving to Jakarta in 1977.

Sumarsih became a civil servant at the secretariat general of the House of Representatives from 1982 until 2006.

Sumarsih started her career as a human rights activist by advocating to defend justice, and uncover serious human rights violations.

She carried out a peaceful demonstration at Hotel Indonesia Roundabout to seek justice for the victims of the Semanggi shootings every Friday but instead he was equated with the Gerwani movement.

Sumarsih then tried to ask for help from the House of Representatives and held hearings so that he succeeded in forming a special team to investigate the Semanggi shooting incident.

During Semanggi shootings on 13 November 1998, Irawan who was volunteering to help the dead and injured students, was shot dead by the authorities in his chest.

On 9 June 2001, a report on the shooting of the Semanggi victim, Irawan, who was Sumarsih's son, was issued and stated that the shooting was not a case of serious human rights violations so it was only resolved through a military court.

Feeling disappointed with this because the trial was only run by the military, Sumarsih then threw eggs at the Indonesian National Army faction and the police as well as the trial leaders who came from Golkar.

She then joined the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, and together with Suciwati she continued to carry out advocacy, such as meeting with the president, the National Human Rights Commission, and visiting the Military Police Center of the Indonesian National Army, while continuing to carry out demonstrations.

Sumarsih also collects data on the condition of victims of human rights violations and accompanies them to fight for justice and obtain their rights.

On 10 December 2004, she received a Yap Thiam Hien Award at National Museum in Jakarta for her contribution in succeed in overcoming sadness become aware of human values.

On 18 January 2007, Sumarsih founded Aksi Kamisan, an action from the victims and families of the 1965 tragedy, Tanjung Priok massacre, Talangsari incident, Trisakti shootings, May 1998 riots, Semanggi shootings, and other victims of human rights violations, who ask the state to resolve these cases which are still hampered in the attorney general's report.