Impunity without End: The 1965 Indonesia Mass Killings

• In Event: Without Account: State Violence, Law, and Impunity in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The failed coup attempt in October 1965 in Indonesia triggered one of the largest mass killings in the 20th century and led to the creation of New Order military regime under Suharto. Thousands of survivors would experience years of incarceration and torture. After being released, they and their families continued to experience constant surveillance, discrimination and systematic stigmatization from the state and public.

At the present time, almost fifty years after the mass killings, there are still no signs of when discrimination towards the survivors, victims and their descendants might come to an official end. On the other hand, the perpetrators enjoyed endless impunity and have often been hailed as heroes.

This paper is an attempt to historically trace and analyze several factors that I believe contribute to the prolonged obstruction of justice. The analysis will be based on looking at the following factors: present failure in understanding the complex local political and social condition prior and after the killings, the dominant New Order narrative, and international dimensions of the killings. Each of these factors has certain ramifications that play a part in the endless quest to find justice and end impunity.

The materials for the analysis of the creation of the official narrative are drawn from primary documents and interviews with relevant sources. Furthermore, close readings of newspaper articles, opinions, ideas and recent public debate about the mass killings will also help in exploring possible solutions to end the ongoing impunity

Author

• Yosef Djakababa, Universitas Pelita Harapan