Seberapa Parah Pembantaian 1965-1966 Sebenarnya?

Summary

The script explores the dark history of mass graves in Indonesia, particularly surrounding the events of 1965-1966, when up to one million people were killed or disappeared during the anti-communist purge. It reflects on the widespread persecution of those suspected of supporting the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), including arbitrary detentions, torture, and mass killings. The narrative delves into political intrigue, including the mysterious Supersemar letter and international involvement, particularly from the U.S. It underscores the importance of confronting this painful history for Indonesia to move forward and learn from its past.

Takeaways

• 🌲 Mysterious mass graves exist across various locations in Indonesia, often undiscovered and taboo to discuss.
• 👥 An estimated 1 million Indonesians disappeared or were killed during the 1965–1966 purge, with many being labeled as supporters of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI).
• 📜 In 2023, President Jokowi acknowledged human rights violations during the 1965–1966 period, but no concrete justice has been provided for the victims and their families.
• ⚔️ The purge targeted anyone suspected of being associated with the PKI, leading to the imprisonment and torture of many, as well as continued persecution across generations.
• 🔪 The political chaos was fueled by the murder of six army generals in the Lubang Buaya incident, which was blamed on the PKI, although many believe this accusation lacked clear evidence.
• 📜 The controversial 'Supersemar' letter gave Suharto authority to take military control, which led to the dissolution of the PKI and the rise of his New Order regime.
• 🇺🇸 Declassified US intelligence suggests that the United States supported the Indonesian military in suppressing the PKI, as part of their Cold War agenda against communism.
• 🛑 For 32 years under Suharto, the PKI was painted as a traitorous force influenced by foreign communist powers, making their history highly censored and controversial.
• 🎭 Despite their later demonization, the PKI played a role in fighting colonialism and advancing education and cultural projects, especially for the poor in rural areas.
• 🔍 The massacre is one of the largest in Indonesian history, but remains shrouded in secrecy, with many survivors and families still seeking answers and accountability.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the provided script?

The script discusses the mass graves and human rights violations in Indonesia, particularly during the political turmoil of 1965-1966, focusing on the anti-communist purge following the alleged involvement of the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) in the events of the 30 September Movement (G30S).

What event triggered the purge against the PKI in 1965-1966?

The purge was triggered by the G30S movement in which six Indonesian army generals were kidnapped and killed. The PKI was accused of orchestrating this plot, which led to mass arrests, killings, and suppression of those associated with the party.

How many people are estimated to have been killed or disappeared during this purge?

It is estimated that around 1 million people were killed or disappeared during the anti-communist purge between 1965 and 1966.

What role did the United States allegedly play in the events of 1965-1966 in Indonesia?

According to declassified intelligence documents, the United States supported the Indonesian military in suppressing the PKI. This included providing financial aid and weaponry, as the US was concerned about the growing influence of communism in Indonesia during the Cold War.

What was 'Supersemar,' and why is it significant in Indonesian history?

'Supersemar' is a mysterious letter signed by President Sukarno, which granted General Suharto emergency powers. This letter is significant because it led to Suharto taking control of Indonesia's military and later the presidency, marking the beginning of the New Order regime.

Why is the PKI still considered a taboo subject in Indonesia today?

The PKI is considered taboo due to the deep association with the violent events of 1965-1966 and the decades of anti-communist propaganda under Suharto's New Order regime, which portrayed the PKI as traitors and enemies of the state.

What lasting impact did the purge of 1965-1966 have on the victims' families?

Many families of the victims faced discrimination, social ostracism, and were denied opportunities, such as employment in government jobs. This stigma has persisted for generations, affecting the descendants of those accused of being affiliated with the PKI.

What does the script suggest about the complexity of the PKI's role in Indonesian history?

The script suggests that while the PKI was demonized for its involvement in the events of 1965, it also played a significant role in promoting social welfare, education, and anti-colonial efforts in Indonesia, highlighting the nuanced and complex nature of its history.

What message does the script convey about historical narratives and the importance of understanding the past?

The script emphasizes that history is often written by the victors, and many stories, especially those of the oppressed, are left untold. It encourages a deeper investigation into the past to uncover hidden truths and to learn from history to avoid repeating its mistakes.

How does the script link the events of 1965-1966 with broader philosophical ideas about history and memory?

The script draws on the idea that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. It stresses the importance of acknowledging all aspects of history—both glorious and tragic—to become a more mature and informed society.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 Discovery of Hidden Mass Graves in Indonesia's Forests

This paragraph opens with a chilling scenario of people stumbling upon mysterious trees surrounded by stones in a forest, only to realize they are walking over mass graves containing the bodies of thousands of people. These mass graves, remnants of Indonesia's dark past, remain shrouded in mystery. The paragraph then transitions to President Jokowi's acknowledgment of gross human rights violations from 1965-1966, where around a million Indonesians disappeared or were killed, mostly accused of supporting the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). This tragic event left families shattered, with no closure about their loved ones' fate.

05:02

🔍 The Role of PKI and the Start of the Tragedy

The narrative shifts to the political atmosphere during the 1960s when accusations against the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) led to widespread arrests and deaths. This was initiated after the assassination of six Army generals during the G30S incident, for which the PKI was blamed. With no conclusive evidence linking the PKI to the murders, military and public suspicion grew, leading to mass detentions and killings of suspected communists. Soeharto, a military general, capitalized on the chaos, took control of the military, dissolved the PKI, and weakened the influence of then-President Sukarno, paving the way for his eventual rise to power.

10:02

🇺🇸 American Involvement and the Suppression of Truth

This section delves into possible alternative narratives regarding the PKI’s involvement, speculating that factions such as the Indonesian military, Sukarno, or even Suharto himself could have played roles. It highlights new information from declassified American intelligence documents revealing U.S. support in weakening the PKI during the Cold War. The U.S., fearing Indonesia's tilt toward communism, allegedly provided financial and military aid to the Indonesian army. However, the dominant narrative over 32 years of Soeharto's rule continued to place the PKI as the sole villain, leaving little room for alternative truths.

🛠️ The Complex Legacy of the PKI in Indonesia

The paragraph explores the ambiguous legacy of the PKI in Indonesia. While the party is often demonized as traitors influenced by foreign powers, the reality is more complex. The PKI was involved in movements against colonial rule and supported social programs such as education for the poor. Despite their controversial actions, the party had widespread influence, helping reduce illiteracy and fostering a cultural movement in theater and the arts. The narrative underscores that the PKI's role in Indonesian history isn't as black and white as portrayed by decades of anti-communist propaganda.

⚖️ The Brutality of the Mass Killings and Detainments

This paragraph paints a grim picture of the brutal aftermath of the anti-communist purge. It details the horrifying methods of execution, from people being kidnapped and killed to mass detainments where torture and execution were common. Bodies were dumped in rivers and mass graves. It also sheds light on the various perpetrators of these atrocities, including soldiers, civilians, and religious leaders. Some participated out of fear for their own lives, while others were caught up in propaganda-fueled violence. The tragic legacy of these killings is still felt today.

📜 Acknowledging the Past but Still No Justice

The final paragraph focuses on the current state of the historical reckoning for these events. Despite President Jokowi's acknowledgment of past human rights violations, justice remains elusive. Victims’ families are still searching for closure, with many people exiled abroad unable to return. The passage ends with a powerful reflection on the importance of confronting the darker chapters of history, emphasizing that only by acknowledging the past can a nation truly grow and avoid repeating the mistakes of history.

Keywords

💡Mass graves

Mass graves refer to sites where large numbers of bodies are buried together, often as a result of violent events like war, genocide, or massacres. In the video, the script mentions the mysterious mass graves scattered across Indonesia, serving as a metaphor for the unresolved trauma and hidden history of mass killings in the country. These graves symbolize the collective pain and silence surrounding the 1965-66 anti-communist purge in Indonesia.

💡1965-66 human rights violations

This refers to the systematic killings, forced disappearances, and torture that occurred in Indonesia during the political purges of 1965-66. The video highlights that during this period, over a million Indonesians, suspected of being affiliated with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), were killed or disappeared. The term frames the key historical injustice explored in the video and the unresolved nature of the violence even in modern-day Indonesia.

💡PKI (Indonesian Communist Party)

PKI, or the Partai Komunis Indonesia, was one of the largest communist parties in the world until it was targeted and destroyed in the political purge following the 1965-66 coup attempt in Indonesia. The video discusses how the PKI was blamed for the Lubang Buaya incident and how members or supporters were systematically exterminated. It also touches on the duality of the PKI's role in society, as both a force that advocated for economic equality and one that was demonized and suppressed.

💡Lubang Buaya

Lubang Buaya is a site in Indonesia associated with the alleged killing of six Indonesian Army generals by the PKI during the coup attempt of September 30, 1965. This event is often cited as the justification for the anti-communist purges that followed. The video suggests that while PKI was blamed for these killings, there are many alternative theories regarding who orchestrated the event. This incident is key to understanding the broader narrative of Indonesia’s political history.

💡Soekarno

Soekarno was Indonesia's first president, who led the country through its independence movement and early years of nationhood. In the video, he is portrayed as being caught in the power struggle following the 1965 coup attempt, eventually being replaced by Suharto. The script emphasizes his complex relationship with the PKI and the military, as well as his eventual downfall.

💡Suharto

Suharto, the general who succeeded Soekarno, became Indonesia’s president after the 1965-66 political purge. The video describes how Suharto capitalized on the chaos following the coup attempt to assume power, blaming the PKI for the violence and dismantling their influence. His rise marked the beginning of the New Order regime, during which Indonesia was ruled under an authoritarian government for over three decades.

💡New Order

The New Order refers to the political regime led by Suharto from 1966 to 1998, characterized by strong military influence, suppression of communist ideologies, and economic growth at the expense of civil liberties. In the video, this era is shown as a direct consequence of the 1965-66 purge, with the PKI's destruction paving the way for Suharto's authoritarian rule. The New Order’s suppression of the truth about the massacres is a central theme in the video.

💡Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, which had a significant influence on many global conflicts, including Indonesia's political landscape. The video suggests that the U.S. may have played a role in supporting Suharto and the military’s actions during the 1965-66 purge to prevent Indonesia from falling under communist influence, given the global context of anti-communist sentiment during this era.

💡Anti-communist propaganda

This refers to the widespread disinformation and fear-mongering used to portray the PKI and its supporters as a threat to national security. In the video, the script explains how propaganda was employed to justify the mass killings and suppress any opposition to the military’s actions. The anti-communist propaganda not only demonized the PKI but also affected future generations, stigmatizing those associated with communism or the victims of the purge.

💡Historical reconciliation

Historical reconciliation is the process of acknowledging and addressing past atrocities or injustices to heal collective societal wounds. In the video, this concept is tied to the ongoing struggle to recognize the victims of the 1965-66 massacres and provide closure for their families. While President Jokowi acknowledged the human rights violations, the script emphasizes that true reconciliation remains elusive due to the lack of legal accountability or reparations.

Highlights

A mysterious discovery in a forest: circular stones surrounding strange trees, leading to mass graves beneath the ground.

Mass graves in Indonesia remain a taboo subject, despite many being spread across various locations.

In 2023, President Jokowi acknowledged severe human rights violations from 1965-1966.

An estimated 1 million Indonesians disappeared during this period, with many believed to be supporters of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Families affected by the tragedy suffered greatly, including detention without evidence, torture, and social exclusion.

The narrative blames PKI for orchestrating the events of the 1965 Lubang Buaya massacre, but this is debated among experts.

Suspicions persist about other potential perpetrators, including the military, Soekarno, or even Soeharto.

Newly declassified U.S. intelligence suggests America played a role in supporting the anti-communist purges in Indonesia.

Despite conflicting narratives, PKI was officially banned, and many of its members were executed or disappeared.

Soeharto rose to power after PKI's downfall, leading Indonesia into the New Order era, characterized by military involvement in politics.

PKI had significant grassroots support, having fought against colonial powers and improved education and literacy rates.

However, they were also connected with violent land redistribution movements, complicating their legacy.

Many Indonesians, accused of PKI ties, faced brutal executions, including mass shootings and beheadings.

Even now, the descendants of PKI supporters continue to face social stigma and exclusion across generations.

The tragedy remains one of the largest mass killings in Indonesia's history, with rivers and beaches stained with blood.

Transcripts

bayangin suatu hari kalian lagi tersesat

di sebuah hutan dan nyari jalan keluar

tiba-tiba kalian nemu sebuah pohon aneh

di sekelilingnya ada batu-batu yang

melingkar dan Enggak cuma satu ternyata

ada banyak pohon kayak gitu di dalam

hutan tanpa kalian sadari Sebenarnya

kalian lagi jalan di atas lubang-lubang

yang berisi puluhan bahkan ratusan mayat

ya kuburan

masal nyatanya ini bukan cuma

angan-angan semata gilanya ada banyak

kuburan masal yang tersebar di berbagai

lokasi di Indonesia semua ini masih jadi

misteri bahkan tabu yang enggak boleh

diomongin kita bahkan mungkin enggak

tahu lokasi tepat dari kuburan-kburan

massal itu bahkan bisa jadi kuburan

massal ada di bawah kaki kita sekarang

[Musik]

tahun lalu Presiden Jokowi ngeluarin

keputusan yang salah satunya ngakuin

adanya pelanggaran HAM berat tahun

1965 sampai

1966 di tahun itu diperkirakan hingga 1

juta warga Indonesia hilang ya 1 juta

orang angka yang bisa menuhin 13 stadiun

GBK ada yang mati dibunuh ada juga yang

entah mendingan atau lebih ngeri ngilang

tanpa jejak tragedi ini nimpa semua

orang tanpa pandang bulu apapun latar

belakang mereka Ibu kehilangan anak

suami kehilangan istri dan anak

kehilangan orang tua cuma satu yang sama

semua yang hilang adalah mereka yang

dianggap mendukung PKI ya Partai Komunis

Indonesia Salah satu partai terbesar di

Indonesia saat itu yang percaya kalau

kekayaan dan sumber daya harus dibagiin

ke semua orang dengan lebih merata

enggak hanya itu 1,eng juta orang juga

pernah ditahan paksa tanpa bukti

alasannya masih sama dianggap mendukung

PKI enggak jarang penahanan paksa itu

juga termasuk penyiksaan dampak dari

capek ini juga dirasakan keluarga korban

banyak yang ikut di interogasi di

rundung dan dikucilin diasingin ke

tempat antah-berantah dicari dan diancam

sampai harus kabur ke negara lain

dilanggar haknya untuk pulang ke

Indonesia bahkan dibikin jadi susah buat

keterima kerja di pemerintahan dan ini

semua masih dirasain sama keturunan

mereka lintas generasi

Oke semua kejadian ini berujung ke satu

pertanyaan besar kenapa kenapa mendukung

partai ini bisa sampai bikin nyawa

melayang

[Musik]

biar benar-benar paham kita harus mundur

dulu ke Kejadian ini tragedi pembantaian

Lubang Buaya enam orang Jenderal dan

seorang perwira TNI Angkatan Darat

diculik dibunuh dan dibuang ke lubang

ini menurut peneliti satu ini banyak

pihak yang langsung nuduh PKI sebagai

dalang dari kejadian ngeri ini buat

ngambil alih pemerintahan meski belum

ada bukti yang jelas tuduhan ini nyebar

ke masyarakat yang makin panik Apalagi

setelah kehilangan petinggi-petinggi

tni-nya situasi makin Kacau timbul demo

beruntun dan di salah satu demo diduga

ada penyusup yang ikut ngepung Istana

Presiden Soekarno pun panik dan langsung

angkat kaki ke Bogor tapi di sana dia

didatangin sama tiga Jenderal Angkatan

Darat banyak ahli memperkirakan mereka

bikin Soekarno nandatanganin surat

paling misterius di sejarah negara kita

super Semar sampai sekarang Ada dugaan

kalau isi surat aslinya bisa jadi

berbeda sama yang tercatat sejarah yang

jelas saat itu Soeharto jadi punya

kewenangan untuk ngelakuin

tindakan-tindakan demi bikin kondisi

jadi lebih damai Pak Harto yang waktu

itu masih Jenderal TNI angkatan darat

langsung bertindak cepat setelah ngambil

alih komando militer dia ngelarang dan

ngebubarin PKI

nangkepin tokoh-tokoh pentingnya selalu

nekenin kalau PKI adalah dalang dari

trag di Lubang Buaya dan ujungnya bikin

pengaruh PKI di Indonesia melemah

Soeharto lalu mulai nyingkirin pengaruh

Soekarno dia ngambil kendali media

danorong militer terlibat dalam politik

dan pemerintahan pada akhirnya Sang

Jenderal yang penuh senyuman pun menggan

sanglamator

tewas PKI porak pororanda Soekarno

Lengser soarto naik tahta dan Indonesia

memasuki era orde baru ini semua bisa

terjadi berdasarkan satu anggapan bahwa

PKI lah pelaku Gerakan 30 September tapi

sebenarnya ada banyak juga dugaan

tersangka lain mulai dari TNI Angkatan

Darat Soekarno atau bahkan soharto

sendiri namun perlahan-lahan faktanya

mulai terang tahun segini rahsia

intelijen Amerika dibuka buat publik dan

di dalamnya ada informasi yang bilang

kalau ternyata salah satu pelaku utama

di balik semua ini adalah Amerika saat

itu mereka lagi perang dingin dan

ngerasa kekuasaan PKI di Indonesia

terlalu besar Amerika enggak pengin

Indonesia jadi negara komunis dan

ngedukung tragedi ini mereka sampai

tercatat ngirim bantuan dana dan senjata

buat tentara Indonesia tapi dari

banyaknya dugaan yang ada Kebanyakan

orang masih cuma tahu satu skenario yang

misiin PKI sebagai tersangka kenapa

Mungkin karena selama 32 tahun

kekuasaannya Soeharto terus menempatkan

PKI di jurang paling gelap yang tak bisa

dijangkau

[Musik]

sering dianggap pengkhianat bangsa yang

dipengaruhi kekuatan asing ini enggak

sepenuhnya salah karena kata Soekarno

mereka Emang pernah pengen ngegulingin

pemerintah Indonesia terus mereka juga

emang berhubungan sama partai-partai

komunis luar negeri termasuk yang ada di

Rusia dan Cina lalu misi mereka untuk

ngebagiin lahan pun sering kali berakhir

dengan kekerasan Tapi tentu aja semua

ini enggak sesederhana itu juga mungkin

Kalian juga pernah ngerasa Semakin

banyak kita belajar berpikir dan tumbuh

di asa makin kelihatan kalau dunia itu

enggak pernah sehitam putih itu mungkin

termasuk PKI yang hingga kini namanya

itu masih tabu semua cerita ngeri yang

tersebar mungkin nguburin ingatan kita

kalau sebenarnya PKI dari dulu juga

banyak keembantu masyarakat mereka

pernah ngelawan balik menjajah Belanda

di beberapa daerah di Jawa dan Sumatera

terus beberapa ahli juga bilang kalau

pemberontakan di Madiun tadi bukan upaya

PKI ngambil alih pemerintahan Selain itu

mereka juga nyatuin banyak gerakan yang

yang pengin bikin Indonesia merdeka

mereka juga banyak bergerak di bidang

edukasi banyak program PKI yang bikin

anak-anak miskin di desa jadi lebih

berpendidikan angka buta huruf jadi

menurun dan enggak hanya itu PKI juga

bikin berbagai macam karya sastra teater

dan seni berkembang pesat terutama yang

temanya keadilan dan anti penjajahan ya

jadi dunia seringkiali penuh keabu-abuan

tapi di Indonesia mereka yang dilabelin

merah Pernah Dinilai lebih buruk dari

penjahat dan apa yang terjadi setelahnya

adalah salah satu pembantaian terbesar

yang pernah dialami negara

[Musik]

kita setelah orang yang dicap sebagai

anggota PKI ditargetin menurut berbagai

sumber ada beberapa skenario penangkapan

mereka bisa tiba-tiba dibekap dan

matanya ditutup pas lagi jalan

malam-malam

terus begitu sadar mereka sudah ada di

sebuah pulau yang jauhnya ratusan kilo

dari rumah atau bisa juga rumah-rumah

mereka tiba-tiba didatangin terus mereka

diseret masuk ke truk bareng ratusan

orang lain dan disekap di penjara atau

ketika lagi ada cara kumpul-kumpul

mereka tiba-tiba digerebek dan ditangkap

di dalam penjara penyiksaan udah jadi

makanan sehari-hari dan kalau penjaranya

sudahudah Penuh semua orang di dalamnya

ditembak pakai senapan mesin atau

ditebas lehernya atau bisa juga ditusuk

dadanya mayat-mayatnya lalu dibuang ke

dalam sumur-sumur di sekitar

penjara semua orang atau kelompok yang

dicurigain ada hubungannya sama PKI

dibabat habis sekolah dibakar toko

dijarah perempuan dan anak kecil

dilecehin beberapa ada yang nasibnya

lebih dalam tanda kutip beruntung karena

cuma diteror dan disiksa termasuk mereka

yang lagi kuliah di luar negeri Ya

mungkin mereka masih bisa hidup tapi

selalu ngerasa keselamatannya itu

terancam kejadian-kejadian kayak ginilah

yang enggak cuma dialamin sekali dua

kali sama orang-orang Indonesia tapi

terus-terusan sampai tahun berikutnya

sungai-sungai dihiasi mayat dan di

pantai ombak menyapu bekas darah jejak

pembantaian ini juga terlihat di data

sensus penduduk waktu itu ada peneliti

yang bikin proyeksi penurunan jumlah

penduduk di beberapa daerah Indonesia

gara-gara adanya pembantaian dan

ternyata pelaku pembantaian orang-orang

tertuduh PKI ini beragam ada tentara

warga biasa bahkan Santri dan ulama

alasan keterlibatannya beda-beda

Sebagian ada yang termakan propaganda

sebagian enggak punya pilihan karena

kalau enggak mau terlibat merekalah yang

diancam untuk

[Musik]

dibunuh tapi tadi kita udah tahu

Presiden Jokowi udah ngakuin adanya

pelanggaran HAM berat di tahun 1965

sampai

1966 tapi mengakuan itu belum kunjung

mbawa kasus ini ke titik terang mereka

yang kehilangan kerabat dan sahabat

masih belum dapat kabar yang jelas dan

mereka yang terusir ke negara lain juga

banyak yang belum bisa pulang sampai

saat ini belum ada pula kejelasan soal

pelakunya sejarah negara kita yang

panjang dan penuh perjuangan mungkin

enggak selalu penuh kejayaan tapi

mengakui Setiap jejak dalam sejarah

Negara kita baik yang mulia maupun

tragedi mencekam adalah tahap pertama

untuk kita bisa jadi bangsa yang lebih

dewasa tanpa pengakuan akan sejarah kita

enggak akan pernah bisa belajar dan maju

ke depan tanpa keberanian melihat ke

belakang kita enggak akan pernah bisa

melangkah dengan benar kayak kata filsuf

satu ini mereka yang ggak bisa mengihat

sejarah terkutuk buat

mengulanginya kata orang sejarah selalu

ditulis sama pemenang dan karenanya demi

kepentingan sang pemenang banyak kisah

diubah fakta ditutup-tutupi dan suara

dibungkam tapi justru di sinilah Peran

kita sebagai pembelajar dibutuhkan untuk

mendengar mereka yang terlupakan

mempertanyakan hal-hal yang selama ini

diyakini tanpa ragu dan terus bertanya

demi lebih dekat pada kebenaran dan

seperti biasa terima kasih