YOGYAKARTA- He is no longer a young man, but his spirit is still strong. He is enthusiastic in trying to disclose the facts behind the G30 S/PKI incident. His name is Ibrahim Isa, a man born in Jakarta, 20 August 1930, who has been long living in the Netherlands. He is an exile.
This time Isa gave a speech in the discussion of his book Bui Tanpa Jerajak Besi, Pikiran Seorang Eksil Indonesia di Luar Negeri (Prison without Bars, the Thought of an Indonesian Exile Abroad) at the Center for Rural and Regional Studies of UGM, Thursday (6/9).
In the discussion led by Deputy Head of the Center, Drs. Suharman, M.Si, Isa urged against the culture of lies on the G30 S/PKI incident that continues to be maintained despite the change of regime.
“I hope there will no longer be the culture of lies on the G 30 S/PKI incident,” said Isa.
Isa said that in the modern era the notion of “history can (only) be written by authorities” is no longer relevant. Isa gave the example of the G30 S/PKI in the make-up case of a book on Bung Karno, entitled Sukarno-An Autobiography, as Told To Cindy Adams (1965). The New Order with the direct involvement of Gen. Suharto had devised and counterfeited the book, published in the Indonesian edition in 1966 with an introduction by Suharto.
“In the Indonesian edition it was said that Bung Karno defamed Bung Hatta. This is a fraud done by Suharto,” he said.
History can be straightened up and none is outdated. Such was the case with the verdict of the Den Haag Court (14/9-2011) on the killing of 431 residents of Rawagede village by the Dutch troops in 9 December 1947. The Den Haag Court for the first time in Dutch tribunal history stated that the war crime against the Rawagede residents cannot be considered outdated. The Dutch Government had committed acts against the law that had to be accounted for by giving compensations to the widows and children of the victims.
“The verdict by the Den Haag Court can become the bridge in the relations between the Netherlands -Indonesia. This can also be implemented in the G30 S/PKI case in which lies and make-up stories are still found.
Isa who was seen as a PKI intelligent in the Netherlands always reminds the Government the major duty and responsibility to rehabilitate the civic and political rights of residents who were not guilty and became victims in the national tragedy occuring between 1965-1969.
Meanwhile, lecturer of UGM, Drs. Arif Akhyat, M.A., saw that Ibrahim Isa’s presentation was very important to rectify the developments of Indonesian history. Moreover, the history of the period between 1962-1963 has not been much revealed in books or school textbooks, especially at universities.
“It is very important to explain history as it is. Moreover, we don’t see much of the history in the 60s,” he said. In writings published around the time of Suharto’s fall, Isa convinced the task of Indonesia that has not finished in the building of the nation. Such task is still a major task and is fundamental to Indonesia.
Prior to living in the Netherlands, Isa and his family had lived in China for ten years before in early 80s he decided to emigrate to the Netherlands and asked for an asylum.