A friend asked me, “where is Buru island?”. I was surprised at his question. I never expected a question like that from a highly educated friend, who even studied abroad. Apparently, an education like that does not ensure people know about history. The more so, when the state has sought to erase that history purposefully.

Maybe it’s also because there is little information about this island at school or in books. But if we look up information on Google, there are more than 487.000 search results. The history of my nation is not only full of stories of heroes, but there are also many dark parts, which have been erased for the interests of those in power.

The photo of this monument is one of the very few artefacts that remain on Buru island. A monument which is a proof of the repressive military regime led by Soeharto.

Whisnu Yonar
​#1965setiaphari #living1965