Local history needs revision, suggests historical society
Local history needs revision, suggests historical society
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Responding to growing public pressure for an updated and
truthful version of Indonesian history, which currently contains
many misleading or erroneous items, historians recommended on
Wednesday that a completely new history book must be written.
The Indonesian Historical Society (MSI) said that an entirely
new history book is vital and necessary because the existing
version was published in 1974 and many things have changed
radically or become clearer since then.
"In the past, we were only told about successful people and
Javanese culture and history. There was a little bit about
Sumatra and other regions, but now we have studied all the
regions so those should be included. The government has also done
some very extensive research on our history and that should be
included," Taufik Abdullah, chairman of MSI, told a press
conference at the end of a three-day National History Conference
at the Hotel Indonesia.
Around 400 historians attended the conference, which was
organized by the Directorate General of History and Archeology at
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in cooperation with the MSI.
"We recommend the writing of a new history book, not rewriting
the existing one," Taufik stressed.
MSI further demanded that the government give the historians
freedom to set the content of the book, wherein the government
acts only as the facilitator by providing the funding for the
development of the new book.
"The content of the book must be free from political interests
of the ruler," Taufik noted.
The existing history book, produced by a team from the
Ministry of Education and Culture, has for decades been the only
reference for any writing, including school textbooks.
When Soeharto stepped down in 1998, pressure mounted for the
government to rewrite the book as there were many supposed facts
in question.
The book was widely criticized as Soeharto's New Order regime
frequently utilized it as a tool to strengthen power.
The MSI also recommended that national curricula in history
for all school levels be changed by focusing on the rich
diversity in Indonesian history and culture.
"History allows people to understand and be aware of the true
meaning of diversity. It will strengthen national integrity and
be key in solving frequent incidents of communal conflicts,"
Taufik remarked.
With the spirit of reform, MSI also demanded that research
results on history conducted by government agencies, universities
and other research institutions must be made available to the
public.
Taufik reiterated that history must be treated as knowledge
and not be abused by political leaders to legitimize their power.