Darsan (80) was still on his first assignment at Maospati Iswahjudi Airfield (now called Iswahjudi Air Force Base) when the ‘65 incident occurred. By order of the Battalion, he had to be assigned to patrol the villages and see how people were being forcibly “taken away” to be then herded into overcrowded trucks of 50 people. Previously, Darsan had joined as a volunteer for the return of West Irian to Indonesia in ‘63. Continuing his service to the country, the following year, he enrolled in the army and underwent military education in Klaten for six months. He probably never thought he would eventually become one of the witnesses to the dark events of ’65.
“At night, I was once told to escort two trucks. Two trucks were taken to a location, and there was already a big hole (Named Lubang Buaya). So (the people inside) the two trucks were all killed,” said Darsan. The people were lined up in front of the hole, one by one. Their faces were shone by flashlight before finally getting a hit to the neck and immediately thrown into the death pit. Darsan not only had to witness how the lives of those people ended right before his eyes. Six years later, he was arrested for accepting Marxist-communist teachings. His status as a soldier was also revoked. Moreover, while in prison for seven years, he had to separate from his first wife.
Currently, Darsan lives in his modest house with his second wife. No longer swiftly carrying weapons and patrolling around the village, he now chooses to take up the profession as a tailor to meet his daily needs. As a veteran, Darsan had hope. “Because I previously had income from the Government, I hope (now), however much, there will be a reward (also) from the Government, if I may say so.”
The documentary film Darsan’s Testimony, directed by Annisa Rahmasari, becomes a new lens for the audience to see the landscape of the ’65 events more closely. This film can be seen at the Festival Film Dokumenter 2022 in the Student Documentary Competition program.
Written by Hesty N. Tyas
Edited by Vanis
Film Details:
Darsan’s Testimony (Kesaksian Darsan)
Annisa Rahmasari | 14 min | Indonesia | Color | 2022 | 15+
Showtime:
16 November 2022 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 15.00
19 November 2022 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 16.30
