medcom.id: President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) once met with Pramoedya Ananta Toer (Pram) as he wanted to apologize on the 1965 tragedy. Pram rejected the apology.
"How easy to apologize after all that has happened. I do not need this," said Pram about the apology.
Why only Pram? He was not the only victim of the anti-communist purge.
Pram was a leader of the People's Cultural Agency (Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat/Lekra), an agency established by the communist party (PKI). Pram was jailed for 14 years without any trial. His family also received discrimination.
Pram was arrested on October 13, 1965. He was at Buru Island for 10 years from 1969 to 1979.
He was not allowed to write in prison. Nevertheless, he told his stories to his inmates which then brought it outside the island. His works in Buru Island remains popular until now.
Pram was released on December 21, 1979 and received an official letter declaring his innocence on September 30 Movement. However, he was still on house detention until 1992 and city detention until 1999.
It is what initiated Gus Dur who was also the leader of NU, the largest Islamic organization involved in 1965 tragedy, to apologize to Pram.
Even with Gus Dur's capacity as Indonesian President, Pram still thought that it wasn't enough. “Everything should be according the law," wrote Pram in 'I'm Not Nelson Mandela' a response to his critics.
Reconciliation
After Pram's death on April 30, 2006, there is little effort to start legal process of 1965 tragedy. In contrary, the reconciliation idea is emerging
The 1965 symposium last month was part of the reconciliation efforts. Some victims of the 1965 tragedy think the issue should not be brought to justice. They only expect the government to reveal the truth, give an apology and eradicate all discrimination.
Reconciliation also preferred by NU. "NU wishes to join forces with others to boost the reconciliation process more perfectly," said the Chairman of PBNU, KH Imam Aziz recently.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. (Ret) Agus Widjojo in his capacity as the initiator of 1965 Symposium said that Indonesian should be prepared to face its dark history. "A great nation is the one capable of looking at its past," said Agus, who was also the victim of 1965 tragedy. His father, Maj. Gen. (Posthumous) Soetojo was killed during the G30S/PKI incident.
Cek Berita dan Artikel yang lain di Google News
