Here is an artefact from Buru Island; my older brother Tedjabayu sent this to Mother. It is the “padi kemanten” (first harvest) from the island of Buru, Unit 1, Wanapura, in 1976. The commander of this unit was Sri Murtonoputro, First Lieutenant of the Military Police, registration number 309303. Although rice kernels usually disappears from within the hulls within 4-5 years, surprisingly many of these rice hulls still contain the kernels now, even after nearly forty years. Sri Nasti Rukmawati #1965setiaphari #living1965
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On my 25th birthday, my family gave me a notepad with recipes of dishes we enjoy in our family. My father contributed four recipes. The first is for fried rice as he made it when I was small, the other are “Three Menus of Political Prisoners”. They are “head vegetables”, cooked in so much water one could see his or her reflection; “plastic vegetables”, because the young papaya was cooked so long it resembled plastic; and “valve vegetables”, because the stalks of the water spinach looked like tyre valves. When I got the note pad, I did not consider cooking these recipes. But some time ago, my daughter asked me what kind of food was given to her grandfather while he was in prison. Maybe one day I should try the recipes, so she will know. Ken Setiawan #1965setiaphari #living1965 A friend asked me, “where is Buru island?”. I was surprised at his question. I never expected a question like that from a highly educated friend, who even studied abroad. Apparently, an education like that does not ensure people know about history. The more so, when the state has sought to erase that history purposefully.
Maybe it’s also because there is little information about this island at school or in books. But if we look up information on Google, there are more than 487.000 search results. The history of my nation is not only full of stories of heroes, but there are also many dark parts, which have been erased for the interests of those in power. The photo of this monument is one of the very few artefacts that remain on Buru island. A monument which is a proof of the repressive military regime led by Soeharto. Whisnu Yonar #1965setiaphari #living1965 From Ambon, it takes a night to get to Buru Island with a ferry. Its broad savannas are a feast for the eyes. But behind that beauty, lies a story of cruelty, perpetrated by the state against thousands of political prisoners.
This island was used as a natural prison, but it has never been mentioned in history books. The state has never acknowledged that it banished thousands of prisoners there. They were subjected to slave labour, and because of that Buru now is a main supplier of rice for Eastern Indonesia. By continuing to talk about and discuss the island, we can remember what happened there and the role of the state in the 1965 tragedy. This island is a place where we can learn, so that history will not be repeated. Whisnu Yonar #1965setiaphari #living1965 More than twelve thousand political prisoners of the New Order were exiled to the island Buru. Some of them died because they were tortured cruelly. The blood and sweat of political prisoners changed this barren island full of wild swamps: it became a main supplier of rice in Maluku. I have always been interested in what happened in this country. Unfortunately, the history of this country is made up of many dark pages. Because I am interested, I also feel committed to be involved and do the things that I can do and that are possible. One responsibility that flows from that commitment, is working on a documentary about Buru. We still believe that this country can be better. One way in which we can do that is by not lying about a dark past. Rahung Nasution #1965setiaphari #living1965 When my father was detained, he was given this number. Three, One, Nine, Six. His name and identity were taken from him. Nothing more than an object, to be disposed of. Ken Setiawan #1965setiaphari #living1965 |
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