Indonesia yet to move on from painful past

Indonesia yet to move on from painful past

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Staff Writer , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

On Sept. 30, there was barely a fuss over the conspicuous
absence of flags at half mast -- even the State Palace skipped
the usual sign of commemorating the nation's mourning over an
attempted 1965 coup in which six generals and one captain were
killed.

This was despite the loyalty ritual (also based on
instructions) of raising the flag at half mast each year on that
day, followed by a full mast flag the following day on each Oct.
1 to commemorate the "sanctity" of Pancasila; the adherence to
the state ideology was said to have "triumphed" over alleged
communist maneuvers.

Such observances began to lose their significance with the
downfall of former president Soeharto, as skepticism began to be
raised over New Order (Soeharto regime) versions of history, in
particular the events surrounding Sept. 30, 1965, followed by one
of the worst cases of mass murder in world history.

Soeharto's rise to power following the events are also still
questioned, whether it was a coup or a transfer of power from
first president Sukarno.

With the fading of some of the state-sponsored symbolism used
to mark the event, versions of the alleged coup other than that
of the official government line began to be discussed openly.
President Abdurrahman Wahid apologized on behalf of his
organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama, whose members in the 1960s had
taken part in the "elimination" of suspected communist party
(PKI) members and supporters. He urged the revocation of a 1966
decree by the People's Consultative Assembly which bans all
literature on and teaching of Marxism/Leninism -- the that was
used to cover Communism in general.

But it is still effective, reflecting the sensitivity of the
issue and also given so many cases of the past and present being
addressed. The trials of the 1984 Tanjung Priok shootings have
just begun, made possible by the establishment of an ad hoc human
rights tribunal.

Court procedures have not been suggested for the events of the
1960s, which could perhaps be seen as too difficult -- but calls
for reconciliation suggest that there is neither the intention to
forgive or forget.

A realization has slowly spread that many on both sides
following the turbulent, deadly events, or G30S/PKI, as it is
called, all became victims including those detained without trial
and the official stigmatization thrust upon their relatives. Some
of those victims have raised the idea of reconciliation, which is
seen as vital to cleanse the revenge among survivors, political
prisoners and their descendants and family members of those who
were murdered or stigmatized.

An elderly man in Lubang Buaya, Pondok Gede in East Jakarta
where the generals and the captain were executed, shook his head
when seeing President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her entourage at
the commemoration of Pancasila Sanctity Day last Oct. 1.

"The President is quite respectful of the country's 'heroes'
but she pays no respect to the hundreds of thousands of innocent
civilians butchered in the name of PKI elimination," he said.

Marsudi, a resident of Pondok Cabe, Tangerang, said: "Why
should I raise the flag; many now are aware of the deceitful
stories on the tragedy propagandized by the Soeharto regime for
many decades in a bid to justify the way he came into power."

While in the past the public was only exposed to the official
version made popular through the film Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI
(Betrayal of the Sept. 30, 1965 Gestapo movement) produced by the
State Film Production Center and screened annually on all
television stations, a number of books and films now offer other
accounts to which earlier only a few people were exposed to.

Buntoro, a former member of the formidable presidential guard
force, the Tjakrabirawa, was among the first to be detained
without trial. He served 15 years in jail and recently was among
those who published their stories surrounding the 1965 upheaval
in a book entitled Kesaksian Tapol Orde Baru (Testimony of New
Order's Political Prisoners).

"I am ready for reconciliation, even though I was among those
who were sacrificed," he told this writer. However he first seeks
rehabilitation and compensation for people who suffered a similar
fate. His testimony reveals that while he knew of the order to
take the generals who were alleged of conspiring a coup, he was
in the dark of their execution. Buntoro is now a security guard.

Commemorating the 25-year anniversary of the tragedy in 1990,
investigative reports in the U.S. showed the involvement of the
Central Intelligence Agency in the bloodbath. Former CIA agents
revealed they had compiled death lists for some 5,000 PKI cadres.

Estimates of those killed range from 500,000 to 1 million
while tens of thousands of others were imprisoned on Nusa
Kambangan and Buru Islands. Their families continue to be denied
access to public services, same as during the New Order era.

A team of historians led by Taufik Abdullah has been working
for the last three years to write a truthful, factual historical
account concerning Soeharto and his regime.

All the figures involved in the events should be willing to
provide testimonies on the tragedy to the historian's team.

Living witnesses on the events of Sept. 30, 1965 and its
aftermath are still to be found, including Soeharto himself --
who, however always appears to be unable to speak. Gen. (ret) M.
Jusuf should be asked again to reveal the true story of the
contentious March 11, 1967 order signed by Sukarno, which
effectively led to the rise of Soeharto to power.

Among those calling for reconciliation is Amelia Yani, eldest
daughter of one of the murdered generals, Ahmad Yani, and S.
Burhan, a member of the youth organization/militia affiliated
with Nahdlatul Ulama. They said that reconciliation is much
needed -- with the condition of a new commitment to cope with the
tragedy from the perspective of human rights.

"We're all victims ... together with families of PKI (alleged
members and supporters) who have been isolated and discriminated
against," Amelia said.

"Because of this realization ideas of reconciliation emerged,
especially for the future of this nation." Victims like herself
and those among families of former alleged PKI members and
supporters have held a number of meetings.

Following former president Abdurrahman's apology on behalf of
NU for victims of PKI members Burhan cited NU's survey in 15
towns. Burhan said many of the youths at that time were willing
to help hunt down suspected PKI members and supporters as they
were convinced, as was the media, that the PKI was in the wrong,
Burhan said. "As a nation how can we move forward if we remain
divided?" he added, urging reconciliation.

Indonesia is yet to learn from South Africa's reconciliation
process, which has succeeded in enabling its society to move on
from its painful past.