Edition 122: Oct-Dec 2015 - Inside Indonesia: The peoples and cultures of Indonesia

1965, today: living with the Indonesian massacres

Anniversary celebration for Indonesian Communist Party, Jakarta, 23 May 1965. President Sukarno appears at ease with PKI Secretary General DN Aidit. What happened to all those happy supporters? (AP Photo Photographer : Howard Sochurek, https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partai_Komunis_Indonesia)

The year 1965 marked a turning point in Indonesian history. A failed putsch on 1 October was followed swiftly by a violent backlash against the left. About half a million were killed, perhaps another million and a half detained without trial. The violence paved the way for the military regime of General Suharto, the New Order. Millions of survivors and their relatives lost their civil rights. The nation was changed forever.

Detainees in Salemba prison, Jakarta 1969. Sketch by Gumelar, prisoner. (Tahun Yang Tak Pernah Berakhir, 2004)

Young researchers discover that the victims of history hold a secret every Indonesian should know

Mangunwijaya in Yogyakarta 1991. Source: Gerry van Klinken

Indonesian novels about 1965 reach back to the Mahabharata to find hope and resignation

The Look of Silence. Source: Final Cut For Real

Communism continues to be a taboo in Indonesia but ‘former communists’ have finally regained their rights

Military death map for Aceh. Top right hand corner: 'Attachment: Intelligence Map'. Numbers in circles are the number of public deaths recorded in each district. 'Dead PKI elements': Oknum PKI jg. mati.- Credit: photographed by Jess Melvin.

Newly discovered military documents detail culpability for the 1965 genocide. Why has it taken so long to find them?

A memorial for the victims of the 1998 May riots is unveiled in Pondok Rangon public cemetery Source: Elsam

Pursuing justice through local initiatives

Front cover of 'Forbidden Memories' - Credit: Indah Pascalia Radja

Women who survived ‘1965’ in eastern Indonesia demand state recognition

A Sekber 65 gathering in Solo, Central Java, 2013

The case of Sekber ‘65 in Solo, Indonesia

The International People’s Tribunal 1965 explained

1965, today: living with the Indonesian massacres

Stories that bridge time

A twist of fate

Citizenship restored

Documenting genocide

Jalan Indonesia

No reconciliation without truth

Reconciliation without politics?

Stop Impunity Now

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