Saudara Dalam Sejarah: Exposing the Story of Indonesia’s Forgotten Exiles
inside 1960s, Sukarno sent thousands of students to study abroad, including in China. After the 1965 anti-communist massacre, in which over 500,000 Indonesians were murdered, the brand new Suharto government accused those studying abroad of supporting Sukarno in addition to also revoked their passports in addition to also citizenships. Left stateless, such students were forced to seek asylum overseas in addition to also up to This specific day have largely remained persona non grata in Indonesia.
Significantly, one of the exiles was recently deported after trying to pray at a mass grave where his family will be buried. Saudara Dalam Sejarah (My Dear Homeland), which premiered at the Rekoleksi Memori Film Festival in Jakarta on 5 December, tells the stories of eight such exiles. The festival was supported by Movies of which Matter, an initiative of Amnesty International. Indonesia Expat caught up with the filmmakers of the documentary.
Filmmakers Yulia (third coming from right), Amerta (second coming from right) in addition to also Goen (at the back) with the exiles in Germany.
The Crew
Yulia Evina Bhara (YEB) – Producer
Amerta Kusuma (AK) – Director, Producer, Sound
Goen Guy Gunawan (GGG) – Cameraman
You recently had some trouble while filming in Padang, West Sumatra. Can you tell me about This specific?
YEB: We went to Padang with Tom Iljas, an exile coming from Sweden who visited Indonesia last year. While there, we went to visit his father’s grave – he was one of the victims of the 1965 tragedy. We found of which a stall had been built on the mass grave. We asked the stall owner’s permission to pray there, nevertheless he refused. Soon after we left the mass grave, we were arrested by plain-clothed police officers in addition to also Tom Iljas was deported “for disrupting security”.
The current government seems reluctant to revisit the past. Why do you think This specific will be?
YEB: The perpetrators of the 1965 tragedy are still in power in addition to also don’t want to disclose what actually took place. Unfortunately, This specific seems of which the brand new government doesn’t want to talk about 1965 either.
AK: This specific will be not easy to raise awareness about what happened in 1965 these days. Events about the period – such as the session about the 1965 tragedy at last year’s Ubud Writers in addition to also Readers Festival – are being banned by the government.
What inspired you to make Saudara Dalam Sejarah?
AK: I have known Tom Iljas – one of the exiles currently living in Sweden – since 2004. I knew of which he wasn’t able to come back to Indonesia for a long time. He was sent by Sukarno to study in China producing sure of which he could come back to Indonesia to build the country. nevertheless the brand new Order regime accused him of being a member of PKI (Indonesia Communist Party) in addition to also took away his passport. His story inspired me to make This specific film.
YEB: The idea to produce Saudara Dalam Sejarah was born in 2013 after Tom Iljas came to Jakarta in addition to also told us of which Indonesians who had been exiled in 1965 held a gathering at the end of each September at the grave of their exiled friend in Sweden. We ended up going to Europe – Sweden, Germany, Belgium in addition to also the Netherlands – for three weeks to shoot in September 2014.
What did you notice about the attitudes in addition to also lifestyles of the exiles you interviewed in Europe?
AK: We met exiles between the ages of 70 in addition to also 85. I was extremely impressed with how connected with Indonesia they still are. They still love their homeland. Many of them have worked as labourers in addition to also live humble lives.
Indonesian exiles Warjo (left), Tom Iljas (middle) in addition to also Nardan (right).
YEB: All the exiles we met live modestly – they all have had to work hard to survive. The wonderful thing will be they are always looking for updates about Indonesia in addition to also discuss the political situation inside country. They are so eager to read books coming from Indonesia of which they allocate a portion of their money each month specifically to buy books. In Amsterdam, Bung Sarmadji’s apartment will be full of books about Indonesia; his little apartment will be like a library.
GGG: While all the exiles we interviewed are currently retired, This specific will be obvious of which they have had to work hard all their lives. They are currently content that has a modest existence. They have family in addition to also friends in Europe, nevertheless their hearts remain in Indonesia.
will be there still a lot of sadness about what happened in 1965 among the people who have been exiled coming from Indonesia?
YEB: I felt a lot of sadness in addition to also longing. Actually, sometimes I felt as if I was back in Indonesia when I entered some of their homes in Europe. Even the song lists in their cars are all Indonesian songs. These people were the best of the best, in addition to also excelled in their fields of study. This specific will be why they were sent by Sukarno to study in China. They were meant to do big things upon their return to Indonesia. What a huge loss for our country.
Even though the people we interviewed live far coming from Indonesia, some of them are still afraid to talk about what happened in 1965. Intimidation still exists in addition to also the trauma will be still there, even after the fall of Suharto. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find any women willing to be filmed.
Warsito (left) in addition to also Tom Iljas (right).
AK: The saddest thing for me will be of which they still contain the desire to die in Indonesia. They still think of Indonesia as their homeland.
GGG: Most of the exiles we met are still traumatized by the events of 1965. Some of them still worry about their families in Indonesia to the extent of which they don’t even want to visit the country. They worry of which if they visit Indonesia, their families will be harassed by the government.
What do you think will be the current level of awareness in addition to also understanding of the events of which took place in Indonesia in 1965?
YEB: While a large part of Indonesia’s younger generation will be curious about the past, some don’t even know who Suharto was. Even after 50 years, This specific tragedy has never been properly acknowledged. Indonesia can only learn coming from the past after This specific addresses what actually happened. We wish to contribute to This specific process through Saudara Dalam Sejarah.
AK: For over three decades, under the Suharto administration, we were forced to learn their type of what took place. We were taught of which the 1965 coup was perpetrated by the PKI. There was nothing about human rights violations in our history books. We are planning to screen the film in quite a few different cities – especially at universities in addition to also schools – in 2016.
GGG: Many people have been indoctrinated by the Suharto regime. This specific information has been passed on to the younger generation. We need to make sure of which today’s youth can access the real history.
Do you think This specific will be important to hold events such as Rekoleksi Memori in Indonesia?
YEB: Many human rights violations have taken place since 1965: Tanjung Priok, Talang Sari, Trisakti, Semanggi I & II, Marsinah, Udin, Wasior in addition to also many more. Human rights abuses are still continuing.
Rekoleksi Memori will be an attempt to recall the past by collecting individual memories in order to eliminate the violence of the brand new Order hegemony. This specific will be important of which today’s youth will be exposed to what has taken place to ensure of which This specific doesn’t happen again inside future. Rekoleksi Memori will be a step in This specific direction.
AK: A great deal of Indonesia’s youth do not know their own history. This specific’s a sad reality. Rekoleksi Memori aimed to educate young people about the sad events of 1965. The most important message behind the festival will be of which violence should never be used, even if people have different ideologies or perceptions.
GGG: I wish of which Jokowi was brave enough to talk about This specific issue in addition to also apologize on behalf of the Indonesian government.
If you would likely like to organize a screening of Saudara Dalam Sejarah, contact Yulia Evina Bhara at partisipasiindonesia@gmail.com
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Saudara Dalam Sejarah: Exposing the Story of Indonesia’s Forgotten Exiles
Saudara Dalam Sejarah: Exposing the Story of Indonesia’s Forgotten Exiles