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Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asia News Network
Minister kicks off public discussion on Indonesia's controversial new history books
July 29, 2025 JAKARTA – Culture Minister Fadli Zon has reassured the public that the forthcoming history books 'are not hiding anything' as he launched a public campaign on the project despite concerns past human rights abuses may be whitewashed. Fadli held the first round of discussion on Friday at the University of Indonesia's (UI) main campus in Depok, West Java, and said in his remarks there that the new history books were aimed at taking an 'Indonesia-centric' perspective in updating the country's history. 'This forum is a kickoff for public discussions to show that we are not hiding anything in our history. We can debate it, but we cannot simply leave our history unwritten,' he said in the livestream event. Deflecting concerns of being a rushed project, the minister said the ongoing efforts to rewrite the country's history is '26 years too late'. He noted that the last state-sanctioned revision took place at the start of the Reform era in 1999. The upcoming 10-volume publication will include everything from the latest archaeological findings on early civilizations in the archipelago up to the end of former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's second term in October of last year. The project involves 112 historians from 34 state universities across Indonesia, whom Fadli described as the 'maestros' of their respective fields. 'History cannot be written carelessly. If it is written by an activist, the result will be different. If it is written by a politician, it will also reflect differing political interests. That is why history must be written by qualified historians,' he said. The project has come under fire from activists and independent historians, who fear that the government might be looking to take a revisionist approach by emphasizing only positive legacies of past presidents, including Soeharto, whose authoritarian rule was marked by widespread human rights abuses and systemic corruption. Fadli has also come under heavy criticism for his repeated dismissal of the mass rapes that took place during the May 1998 riots. While Fadli did not provide a specific publication timeline, he said he hoped the books would serve as a 'gift' for the nation's 80th Independence Day on Aug. 17. Restu Gunawan, director general for the protection of culture and tradition at the Culture Ministry, said that, in addition to the event at UI, three more discussions are set to follow in the coming weeks in Lambung Mangkurat University in South Kalimantan, followed by Padang State University in West Sumatra and at Makassar State University in South Sulawesi. 'The books are currently in the editing stage by the volume editors. Hopefully, public input from these forums can help fill in any remaining gaps before it moves on to the general editor for final refinement,' Restu said.
India.com
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
What is Aura Farming? Meet the boy behind the viral video which sparked global dance trend, boy is from...
New Delhi: An Indonesian boy shaking his legs on the front of a boat has taken the internet by storm, sparking a global trend known as 'aura farming.' The viral moment has been recreated by famous athletes and thousands of fans around the world. 'Aura farming' is an Internet expression popularized in 2024, largely in reference to anime characters and celebrities. It refers to the act of consistently looking cool to build one's 'aura.' 11-year-old Rayyan Arkhan Dikha from Indonesia's Riau dressed in a black traditional costume and wearing sunglasses has been dubbed in the sociala media as 'the ultimate aura farmer'. He performed a series of repetitive movements calmly on the bow of a thin boat, videos of which have amassed millions of views globally. The Indonesian boy who goes by the name of Dika was participating in a local event known as 'pacu jalur,' which roughly translates to 'boat race.' A tradition that dates back to the early 17th century, the event is now held every August to commemorate the Indonesian Independence Day. Bros job is to aura farm — Out of Context Human Race (@NoContextHumans) July 5, 2025 Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon Issues Statement After hosting Dika in his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon released a statement and said 'Pacu jalur has been one of Indonesia's Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2015.' 'It has always been a part of life for people in (Kuantan Singingi), including to celebrate the most important Islamic holidays and also our independence day,' Fadli added. An Indonesian boy dancing on the front of a boat has recently taken the internet by storm, sparking a global trend known as 'aura farming.' The viral moment has been recreated by famous athletes and thousands of fans around the world.
Malay Mail
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Rewriting the past: Indonesia's new history books spook scholars
JAKARTA, July 14 — The Indonesian government's plans to issue new history books have sparked fears that mention of deadly riots in 1998 targeting mostly ethnic Chinese in the country will be scrubbed from the text. The 10-volume account was ordered by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, an ex-general accused of abducting activists in the unrest that preceded dictator Suharto's fall, claims he denies. Scholars fear his government could use the exercise to rewrite history and cover up past abuses. Draft volume summaries and a chapter outline seen by AFP do not include any specific section on the 1998 violence. A summary of Suharto's rule in the volume dedicated to him only mentions how 'student demonstrations... became a factor' in his resignation. 'The writing was flawed since the beginning,' said Andi Achdian, historian at Jakarta's National University, who has seen the outline. 'It has a very strong tendency to whitewash history.' Suharto ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in the wake of a 1965-6 massacre. The culture minister overseeing the government's history project, Fadli Zon, told lawmakers last week the account 'does not discuss May '98... because it's small'. Neither does it promise to include most of the 'gross human rights violations' acknowledged by former president Joko Widodo in 2023. Jajat Burhanudin, a project editor, contradicted Fadli and dismissed concerns, telling AFP the new volumes would include 1998 events, with the draft outline just a 'trigger for discussion'. Officials say the new historical account is needed to strengthen Indonesian identity, but warned that any omission about its darkest past will raise eyebrows over objectivity. 'What is feared is that... the cases that have been accepted by the previous government to be resolved will be ignored,' said Marzuki Darusman, a former attorney general and head of a civil society coalition opposed to the volumes. 'Updated' history While it remains unclear how the government plans to use the books, Jajat said the volumes could be used as 'one of the main sources' for history books taught in schools. Neither historian Susanto Zuhdi, who is helming the project, nor the presidential palace responded to requests for comment. The revisionist history garnered renewed scrutiny after the culture minister questioned whether mass rape had occurred at the end of Suharto's rule. Ethnic Chinese Indonesians bore the brunt of the bloodshed during the riots, when rape squads—purportedly led by army thugs—roamed Jakarta's streets. 'Was there really mass rape? There was never any proof,' Fadli told local media in an interview last month. 'If there is, show it.' A 1998 fact-finding report, commissioned by Indonesia's first president after Suharto, found at least 52 reported cases of rape in the unrest. 'This project risks erasing uncomfortable truths,' said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia. Fadli told AFP the nation-building project would go ahead despite criticism. 'The consensus (is) we continue,' he said. 'This is an updated version of our history,' he added, saying there would be a public debate 'this month', without elaborating. Indonesian students smash a portrait of former president Suharto in one of the offices of the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on May 21, 1998. — AFP pic 'Historical propaganda' The project involves 113 academics including historians, but at least one of them has resigned. Archaeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak told AFP he quit in a dispute over language—the term 'early history' was used instead of 'prehistory' for Indonesia's ancient civilisation. Fadli told lawmakers the phrase was avoided because it was created by Indonesia's former Dutch rulers. But Harry said it showed the political influence over the text. 'It was very obvious that editors' authority did not exist. They were under the control of the government,' he said. The furore around the project has caused some opposition lawmakers and critics to call for its suspension or cancellation. Activist Maria Catarina Sumarsih, whose son was killed in a military crackdown after Suharto's fall, accused the writers of warping the past. 'The government is deceiving the public... especially young people,' she said. Others said documenting Indonesia's past was best left to academics. 'If the government feel this nation needs a history that could make us proud... it can't be through the government's version of historical propaganda,' said Marzuki. 'It should be the result of the work of historians.' — AFP
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rewriting the past: Indonesia's new history books spook scholars
The Indonesian government's plans to issue new history books have sparked fears that mention of deadly riots in 1998 targeting mostly ethnic Chinese in the country will be scrubbed from the text. The 10-volume account was ordered by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, an ex-general accused of abducting activists in the unrest that preceded dictator Suharto's fall, claims he denies. Scholars fear his government could use the exercise to rewrite history and cover up past abuses. Draft volume summaries and a chapter outline seen by AFP do not include any specific section on the 1998 violence. A summary of Suharto's rule in the volume dedicated to him only mentions how "student demonstrations... became a factor" in his resignation. "The writing was flawed since the beginning," said Andi Achdian, historian at Jakarta's National University, who has seen the outline. "It has a very strong tendency to whitewash history." Suharto ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in the wake of a 1965-6 massacre. The culture minister overseeing the government's history project, Fadli Zon, told lawmakers last week the account "does not discuss May '98... because it's small". Neither does it promise to include most of the "gross human rights violations" acknowledged by former president Joko Widodo in 2023. Jajat Burhanudin, a project editor, contradicted Fadli and dismissed concerns, telling AFP the new volumes would include 1998 events, with the draft outline just a "trigger for discussion". Officials say the new historical account is needed to strengthen Indonesian identity, but warned that any omission about its darkest past will raise eyebrows over objectivity. "What is feared is that... the cases that have been accepted by the previous government to be resolved will be ignored," said Marzuki Darusman, a former attorney general and head of a civil society coalition opposed to the volumes. - 'Updated' history - While it remains unclear how the government plans to use the books, Jajat said the volumes could be used as "one of the main sources" for history books taught in schools. Neither historian Susanto Zuhdi, who is helming the project, nor the presidential palace responded to requests for comment. The revisionist history garnered renewed scrutiny after the culture minister questioned whether mass rape had occurred at the end of Suharto's rule. Ethnic Chinese Indonesians bore the brunt of the bloodshed during the riots, when rape squads -- purportedly led by army thugs -- roamed Jakarta's streets. "Was there really mass rape? There was never any proof," Fadli told local media in an interview last month. "If there is, show it." A 1998 fact-finding report, commissioned by Indonesia's first president after Suharto, found at least 52 reported cases of rape in the unrest. "This project risks erasing uncomfortable truths," said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia. Fadli told AFP the nation-building project would go ahead despite criticism. "The consensus (is) we continue," he said. "This is an updated version of our history," he added, saying there would be a public debate "this month", without elaborating. - 'Historical propaganda' - The project involves 113 academics including historians, but at least one of them has resigned. Archaeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak told AFP he quit in a dispute over language -- the term "early history" was used instead of "prehistory" for Indonesia's ancient civilisation. Fadli told lawmakers the phrase was avoided because it was created by Indonesia's former Dutch rulers. But Harry said it showed the political influence over the text. "It was very obvious that editors' authority did not exist. They were under the control of the government," he said. The furore around the project has caused some opposition lawmakers and critics to call for its suspension or cancellation. Activist Maria Catarina Sumarsih, whose son was killed in a military crackdown after Suharto's fall, accused the writers of warping the past. "The government is deceiving the public... especially young people," she said. Others said documenting Indonesia's past was best left to academics. "If the government feel this nation needs a history that could make us proud... it can't be through the government's version of historical propaganda," said Marzuki. "It should be the result of the work of historians." bur-mrc/jfx/lb/hmn
France 24
13-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Rewriting the past: Indonesia's new history books spook scholars
The 10-volume account was ordered by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, an ex-general accused of abducting activists in the unrest that preceded dictator Suharto's fall, claims he denies. Scholars fear his government could use the exercise to rewrite history and cover up past abuses. Draft volume summaries and a chapter outline seen by AFP do not include any specific section on the 1998 violence. A summary of Suharto's rule in the volume dedicated to him only mentions how "student demonstrations... became a factor" in his resignation. "The writing was flawed since the beginning," said Andi Achdian, historian at Jakarta's National University, who has seen the outline. "It has a very strong tendency to whitewash history." Suharto ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in the wake of a 1965-6 massacre. The culture minister overseeing the government's history project, Fadli Zon, told lawmakers last week the account "does not discuss May '98... because it's small". Neither does it promise to include most of the "gross human rights violations" acknowledged by former president Joko Widodo in 2023. Jajat Burhanudin, a project editor, contradicted Fadli and dismissed concerns, telling AFP the new volumes would include 1998 events, with the draft outline just a "trigger for discussion". Officials say the new historical account is needed to strengthen Indonesian identity, but warned that any omission about its darkest past will raise eyebrows over objectivity. "What is feared is that... the cases that have been accepted by the previous government to be resolved will be ignored," said Marzuki Darusman, a former attorney general and head of a civil society coalition opposed to the volumes. 'Updated' history While it remains unclear how the government plans to use the books, Jajat said the volumes could be used as "one of the main sources" for history books taught in schools. Neither historian Susanto Zuhdi, who is helming the project, nor the presidential palace responded to requests for comment. The revisionist history garnered renewed scrutiny after the culture minister questioned whether mass rape had occurred at the end of Suharto's rule. Ethnic Chinese Indonesians bore the brunt of the bloodshed during the riots, when rape squads -- purportedly led by army thugs -- roamed Jakarta's streets. "Was there really mass rape? There was never any proof," Fadli told local media in an interview last month. "If there is, show it." A 1998 fact-finding report, commissioned by Indonesia's first president after Suharto, found at least 52 reported cases of rape in the unrest. "This project risks erasing uncomfortable truths," said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia. Fadli told AFP the nation-building project would go ahead despite criticism. "The consensus (is) we continue," he said. "This is an updated version of our history," he added, saying there would be a public debate "this month", without elaborating. 'Historical propaganda' The project involves 113 academics including historians, but at least one of them has resigned. Archaeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak told AFP he quit in a dispute over language -- the term "early history" was used instead of "prehistory" for Indonesia's ancient civilisation. Fadli told lawmakers the phrase was avoided because it was created by Indonesia's former Dutch rulers. But Harry said it showed the political influence over the text. "It was very obvious that editors' authority did not exist. They were under the control of the government," he said. The furore around the project has caused some opposition lawmakers and critics to call for its suspension or cancellation. Activist Maria Catarina Sumarsih, whose son was killed in a military crackdown after Suharto's fall, accused the writers of warping the past. "The government is deceiving the public... especially young people," she said. Others said documenting Indonesia's past was best left to academics. "If the government feel this nation needs a history that could make us proud... it can't be through the government's version of historical propaganda," said Marzuki. "It should be the result of the work of historians." © 2025 AFP
