Tan Malaka, who was awarded the title of national hero in 1963 by the Indonesian government through Presidential Decree No. 53 of 1963 and signed by President Soekarno on March 28, 1963, seemed to have disappeared from history textbooks in schools in the New Order period and even up until now. The meritorious service of Tan Malaka in Indonesia’s independence struggle seemed lost. In fact, even Tan Malaka’s burial up to this day still need to be clarified.
This was raised in the discussion and book launching of Tan Malaka, Left Wing Movement, and the Indonesian Revolution Volume 3: March 1947, by Harry Poeze, a historian and biographer of Tan Malaka from Holland. It was held at the Auditorium of Fisipol Graduate building UGM, Wednesday (20/10.) Also present in the discussion were Nanang Indra Kurniawan, UGM lecturer of Governmental Science and Eric Hiarej International Relations lecturer.
On that occasion Poeze revealed that he tried to write objectively about Tan Malaka by being not “left-ish” in his book. Because, Poeze saw there are many works of history that are written not objectively, ignoring facts or data.
"I wrote it objectively and not to be “Left-ish”. There are many facts and data from Tan Malaka that need to be clarified again," Poeze said.
He saw that the figure of Tan Malaka is quite important, especially if associated with political and communism discussion in Southeast Asia and even the world. He is a source of inspiration for Sukarno and the independence of Indonesia that in the current context would make a great model for the people of Indonesia.
"He is suitable for the model of the Indonesian people, especially as a political figure who fought unselfishly. He’s not like most political figures in Indonesia right now," he said.
Poeze presented, that in March 1922 Tan Malaka was expelled from Indonesia and went to Berlin, Moscow and the Netherlands. According to Poeze, Tan was shot dead in Selopanggung on February 21, 1949. Tan Malaka was shot dead on orders from Letda Soekotjo of the Battalion Sikatan, Brawijaya Division. He was shot by TNI troops at the slopes of Mount Wilis, precisely in the Selopanggung Village, District Semen, Kediri.
"On 12 November 2009, we tried to examine the DNA from the skeleton that was buried and presumed it to be Tan Malaka. However, we still need supplementary data to be sure," he explained.
Meanwhile, Eric Hiarej said that the publication of a book about Tan Malaka is a cultural product that adds insights to Indonesian. It confirmed that history, especially in Indonesia, is not a straight line and is developing.
"It’s a contributions to the Indonesian people that the history of Indonesia is not a straight line and is developing," Eric said.
Similarly expressed by Nanang Indra Kurniawan that the presence of Tan Malaka is associated with the meaning of a hero. In his view, there is nothing objective to award the hero title to a figure. The policy depends on the interests of the regime and the holder of the political decision at that time.
"The hero title awarded to a figure is strongly associated with the regime and the policy holder. It includes of how it will impact the political imagination of a nation in the future if the character is made a hero," Nanang said.