Eko Suwanto Remembers John Tobing: 'Blood of Struggle' Will Live On
Eko Suwanto, chairman of the DIY Provincial Assembly’s Commission A and a PDI-P politician, attended the funeral of John Tobing, composer of the protest song ‘Darah Juang’ (Blood of Struggle), at Madurejo Public Cemetery in Prambanan, Sleman. Suwanto noted that Tobing’s compositions have inspired students across generations.
John Tobing passed away at UGM Hospital in Sleman on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. His funeral was held on Saturday, 28 February 2026, following a vigil at Arimatea Bethesda funeral home in Yogyakarta.
Suwanto remembered Tobing as an activist who struggled against the authoritarian New Order regime.
“We all mourn the passing of John Tobing, an activist who accompanied the struggle against authoritarianism of the New Order regime. His song ‘Darah Juang’ inspired student movements across generations,” Suwanto said in a written statement to detikJogja on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Suwanto noted that ‘Darah Juang’ became a spark of determination in resisting the New Order regime. He explained that the song sustained the spirit of resistance when he joined cross-campus activists in DIY demanding reform in 1998.
“The lyrics composed by John Tobing have awakened and brought awareness of the importance of continuing to struggle for our homeland, liberating people from the chains of tyranny. It still feels relevant to be voiced and sung together even now. Farewell John Tobing, your spirit of struggle will live on,” he concluded.
The complete lyrics of ‘Darah Juang’ are as follows:
Here in our nation
Where rice fields stretch wide
Oceans rich and abundant
Our land fertile and blessed
In this fair nation
Millions of people suffer loss
Workers’ children go without schooling
Young people in villages have no work
Their rights are stolen
They are displaced and hungry
Mother, accept our blood of struggle
We dedicate ourselves to you
Their rights are stolen
They are displaced and hungry
Mother, accept our blood of struggle
We dedicate ourselves to you
To you we make our promise