So, what is the real Indonesian history?

by Nina Mariani Noor
In talking about history in Indonesia, particularly after the fall of Soeharto, Van Klinken points out some important issues that emerged and got more attention from historians and scholars like G. 30. S PKI events, March 1st . I do agree with him that “official history” made during Soeharto’s reign mostly uncovered the real events that happened in the past in order to promote Soeharto’s power. I, personally, in fact experienced knowing and understanding this “official history” during my school time. Therefore, history about Indonesia that keep in my mind is this kind of history so that I find it difficult sometimes to change my understanding on a fact in the past. And I am sure, that my experiences are similar to other people in Indonesia. for example in the case of communism in 1965-1966, I never taught about the mass killing at that time by my history teacher in my junior and also senior high school. What we know is only about the brutality of PKI rebellion.
In my opinion, some attempts from historians now to reveal the history about Indonesia are really useful and valuable for our next generation. Establishing official history to build a strong nationalism is good. However, we have to avoid blaming or even victimizing some people just to make the history seems good and perfect. Revealing the facts is more important that make them up in order to make it in accordance with what we want.
O’ Rourke explains some backgrounds about some leaders who involved in the reformation process to send Soeharto down from his reign like Megawati, Abdurrahman Wahid and Amin Rais. His way of presenting their short biography and backgrounds provides the readers with clearer background on reformation in Indonesia. Furthermore, it seems that he tries to show the real events in the past to his readers and it seems to be that it is effective in calling readers’ attention.
After all, there is a question in my mind after the development of history writing in Indonesia, What is the real history of Indonesia? Which history that we should believe?

Readings: Gerry Van Klinken, The Battle for History after Suharto, in Mary Zurbuchen ed, Beginning to Remember.
Kevin O’ Rourke, Reformasi the struggle for Power in Post Soeharto Indonesia