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.