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.