Human rights violation cases always leave awful experience to a nation. Indonesia has gone through a series of serious human rights violation, from intentional murder to elimination of human rights activists. One of the unsolved cases is the elimination of Wiji Thukul, a poet and an activist that had been strongly suspected because of his political activity in resisting New Order regime.
Commission for The Disappeared and The Abused (in Indonesia known as KontraS) stated that the report of Wiji Thukul’s disappearance happened simultaneously with the increase of repressive operation in the effort of New Order’s opposition political activity cleansing. As many as 22 activists were abducted in this operation. Thirteen of them—including Wiji Thukul, their whereabouts are still unknown up until now.
This abduction and elimination cases leave deep sorrow to many people, especially to the victim’s family. To Sipon, Wiji Thukul’s wife, the situation forced her to be a single parent for her two children. The same condition made Sipon to became skeptical to the government who was never serious to solve these human rights violation cases. This manner also influenced her political choice in the Pemilu Presiden (Presidential Election) in 2014. Sipon’s decision was based by a very personal reason; none other because of Prabowo Subianto, a former New Order general who became one of the presidential candidates that year. Prabowo was heavily accused as the mastermind of Tim Mawar, the group of soldiers who’s responsible for the abductions. “I hope Tim Mawar are quickly rewarded for their actions,” said Sipon who until this very day continue to demand the elected government to carry on the investigation towards the serious human rights violation cases through Aksi “Kamisan” and “Menolak Lupa” with other victim’s families.
In contrast to their mother, both of Thukul’s children are apolitical. They raise their voice of struggle differently, although it’s still under the artistic gift inherited from their father. Particularly the son, Fajar Merah. However, Fajar didn’t have many memories with Thukul and even refused to be associated with the figure who didn’t have any significance during his childhood. Yet, he tried to understand his father through his writings and stories of his struggle; up until he was given another, illuminated sight.
Together with his friends, he formed a musical group called Merah Bercerita in 2010. Many of the songs they sang and recorded into an album were an adaptation of Wiji Thukul’s poetries. In various demonstration opportunities, Fajar and Merah Bercerita participated not as demonstrators, but as guest stars. In his works, Fajar didn’t fully duplicate what his father had worked on in the past, but he breathes in new lives through musical composing and produced satire-toned songs.
Nyanyian Akar Rumput (2008) adapted its title from one of Wiji Thukul’s poetries which he made in 1988. This movie told the grief of Thukul’s wife and two children in living their lives after their husband/father was reported disappeared; 10 years after the poem was written. Accompanied with footages of the May 1998 riot, the movie also reminded the audience of Indonesia’s dark past. How the struggle of victims and survivors who sacrificed themselves for the birth of democracy in their nation but instead the nation turned a blind eye towards their fate. And for Wiji Thukul’s family, this is not just a matter of surviving and staying alive but how to maintain the spirit of struggle as the only utmost precious, Thukul’s inheritance.
Written by Christen Stephanie
Translated by Shiela M. Larasati
