This article talks about two families who experienced the 1965 tragedy. I put it deliberately in the middle of the movement struggle and civil society actions against government’s plan, via the Cultural Minister, to re-write its own version of history.
A woman of a Chinese descent opens the program which I call a reunion of two families who shared the same experience of the tragedy in 1965. I come with three friends from Yayasan YAPHI who works to protect the survivors of the tragedy in 1965. "We are still alive but Mak Hok died," the first sentence spoken by Djie Siang Lan or Lanny Anggawati on Saturday, 31 May 2025 in a house in the centre of Klaten City. Lanny says that in 1959 the Family Djie was still intact with seven children. One child, the eight, was born six years later. Then something happened that cut across our history. In 1968, Lanny’s father or Djie Kiem Khoen - alias Alex - died and Lanny’s mother had to bring up the children. "Mum was an adopted child and she did not want her children to be adopted. They were the most valuable treasures. Just like Katri, her most valuable treasures were her children."
When Lanny sees the incident in 1965 or sixty years ago, Lanny then mentions Katri, a woman whose life inspired the novel, and who is being celebrated. The novel launch offers an opportunity for the two families with so much emotions to get together, or more exactly for the families to thank God that they are healthy. Before the program starts, I witness Katri, the main character of the novel answers with her smile and points her finger at her chin. The questioner’s question was, “which part of your “face was shot?
In the middle of the Lanny’s monologue, I like to call it that, I also read a number of poems and sing with other family members. Lanny always praises Katri who Lanny says is extraordinary compared to Edy, the brother, and another brother, Djie Liong Houw known as Hoho. From Timur, Katri’s son, Lanny knows that Katri never complains.
"Do not fear suffering. Katri went through worse suffering than anyone else. Katri said "perhaps I should speak." I met Katri from when she was ugly until when she was beautiful, "says Lanny jokingly. The moment of the bovel launch by the two families was a moment of reunion between the families Djie and Katri as some of them have their birthdays.
On 30 October 1965, Lanny’s father, Djie was arrested, leaving 8 children. Family life took a nosedive afterwards. They were rich with two cars and four motorcycles. Suddenly, they collapsed and wandered what they could eat the next day. "everything was either confiscated or secured by the captors. They terrorised our family with guns. What would we eat, we did not know. Who would care about us that was our fate when my father was arrested. It may be difficult to imagine. Whoever was close to use disappear. My father was a smart man, a licensed referee, fluent in Dutch and he was gone. So when we heard the word Military Police and Government Office, we became so afraid and trauamatised. I was the oldest and I was 13 years old then, as my older siblings went to school in Jogja and Solo," says Lanny.
Because they had a bicycle repair shop, Lanny learned there, by repairing bicycles. He could do it because he had to do it. He rarely went to school because he had to tend to the shop, as a labourer and a repairer. His mother who was then 39 years old when the father died did not have any skills to find a job. The young Lanny thought then how and what would they eat the next day." It was a hard time, and he pledged that "he would not be poor again." My mother had a cold every day. It is now called depression. Every day she had “kerokan” (coin rubbing). Who was our support system? My mother...my grandmother, "says Lanny.
When the father was imprisoned, the family was given opportunity to see him at the Military Police headquarter. One of Djie’s daughter was not allowed to return home. So when that daughter came with all the hopes, the father was gone. There was a story that when that daughter, known as Cik Hwa, went to the Netherlands, she met a victim of political persecution who escaped to the Netherlands and they both sang a song composed by victim of political persecution – a prisoner from penjara. Their appearance in you tube was more impressive when Cik Hwa sang live in her original voice. That song inspired Lanny to write a poem "Bila Engkau Kembali." (When You Return)
UCLA conducted a research and it talked to a number of victim families, including the Djie. Its impact was that they found the Djie family. This strong family had the support of many other families. This inspired the film "40 tahun dalam Kebisuan 2005" (Forty Years in Silence 2005). Lanny thinks that the psychological impact can be seen in Edy. He suffers a prolonged trauma.
Lanny says that her brother, Hoho, becae the number one in Klaten but chose not to go to school because to him who was a cultural scholar, women should have higher education so that they would no longer be harassed.
Lanny ends his story in the middle of that meeting of two families by saying that everyone should make sure that they are progressing. Lanny wrote a book "Justru karena Papi Mati Dibunuh" (It Was because Mom and Dad Were Murdered) that solidified Lanny’s resolve not to see suffering as a bad thing. Also the book "Dalam Derita, Manusia Membaja" (In Suffering, People become Strengthened), Lanny hopes that everybody present tonight must consolidate their individual resolve. The sweet night becomes a magical night and ends with a musical entitled "Mekar" (To Bloom).
Timur, "We are sure that if the history is written, it would be a great history. Today, we are launching that history – of our own version. We are the authors of that history. "
Djie family, in particular the son Edy, is a good friend of Katri, the central figure in the novel of the same title. They are very close to each other that Edy’s is always there in the photo album, in every important moment that happens in Katri’s family. Even when Katri’s granddaughter got married, Edy’s face was there. " Edy realises that what happens to, my mother, is nothing compared to what happens to her family." says Timur, a son of laki Katri when talking in front of the audience during the launch of the novel "Katri".
Edy answers that he remembers the first moment meeting Timur in campus. He said to Timur to write a biography of Katri because her story was extraordinary. He believed that it would not be complete without it being written. Then Timur answered that it would be tough. Then the novel "Katri" came after 11 years. It was not written by Timur.
Edy says that he is stressed out, sad, and worried whenever he has an interview. "I remember when Katri said at Amigo (Edy’s clothing store) that she was no longer sad. She harboured no grudge, that is why her family makes progress," says Edy.
Upon hearing that the Indonesian history would be re-written, he said that as a teacher, he had the obligation to say "Do not manipulate history. Give the true history to your students." It should be a lesson for all that it is not to be repeated. I mean teachers should not perpetuate false history.
After Edy’s testimony, Timur the softly introduces her mother’s friends. Some of them were university friends.
Sumiyati from Jatinom, Klaten tells how she married a soldier after she got out of prison, "I lived with my enemy. In people’s eyes, I fought, and showed people who I truly was. At hoe, I had tears of blood." In 2015, I felt relieved from this mental torture after my husband died.
Then there is another friend of Katri that she met in Klaten, Semarang and Plantungan Yogya. "Katri is a dearest friend to me and an example for me. I learned a lot from all the suffering, and her intelligence," she says.
A female friend is also present and tells how she was a member of a choir “Lembah Merapi.” She was a soprano. After graduating from Pangudi Luhur in 1965, she went to a Teacher’s college and she was “taken by the military." In 1968, she was reunited with friends at Klaten Prison. I often companied to Katri and in Plantungan, I was the smallest I then returned home, and I met a met who became my husband in November 1979," she says.
Timur feels really ecstatic and expresses that in words, "Today, my mother’s name is written not only as a footnote but as the title of a novel. "
After a while, Timur lets Adeste Adipriyanti or known as Dede, the author of the novel, and a grandchild of Djie, to share about how he was writing the novel. He said that it took 11 years to finish the novel "Katri".
"I just know that it was Mr. Edy who pushed for the novel Katri to be written. Apparently, the Djie family is the one who finishes it. I do not have other alternative title than Katri. The novel should be Katri. Mak Hok (Mrs. Djie/grandmother) always told me "If you are right, then you do not need to fear anything,"
Dede and Timur raise questions to each other, which part of the novel "Katri" is so meaningful to them. The people in attendance who have read the novel "Katri" then express their view. One person gives a testimony, "The violence is so subtle. There are so many imaginative stories created by Dede. "
So, what makes Katri story different from others? Dede hopes that the book is able to serve as a re-framing so that young people are interested to read.
The final reader of “Katri” novel who is also present, Silvie Tanaga says that every word in the novel is powerful. No words are being wasted. The book is not a project. Adeste is fully involved in the struggle of life – not just in terms of writing the book, but also in terms of the process. Silvie suggests that it is true that the personal is political. This is so true when one talks about a major history that remains hidden. "It is extraordinary that Mrs. Katri is so strong and forgiving. I admire the process, the way the history is presented which is creative and it relates to the life of young people today. The book is suited to the style of young people, with a key mission to never forget. How can we bring history into the light and for me the presentation is devoid of anger but there is lots of love and romance," explains Silvie.
At the end of the program, all of Katri’s children and grandchildren come to the stage and have group photos taken. All people are so impressed when Timur asks Yudi, his brother, somewhat stuttering, how life must have been difficult for Katri when she held an ID card with “Ex-Political Prisoner” sign on it. Yudi was in her Katri’s womb when she was shot. Yudi was born weighing 1.7 ounce, and the doctor had to perform an ultrasound. Yudi experienced bullying all his life, not only by friends but also by the State. "What did you learn from mother that gave you the strength to live? Living for eleven without Katri? " All people at attendance are speechless. Softly, Yudi says, "patient, forgiving, do not hold any sense of vengeance. I had to do whatever work I could get as long as I earn an income. "
In the solemn closing ceremony, Katri gives an advice to the young people particularly those who read "Katri" Novel that they should keep fighting in this life full of challenges. "One must be honest, and not keep any sense of vengeance because one will not benefit from it. One must think positively so that they may live peacefully. They need to read a lot in order to gain much knowledge. They must respects parents/elderly and work hard."
It was a vibrant night without being noisy, and people shake hands and ebrace the two families - Djie and Katri – and I learn then that life must be fought and that truth must prevail. (Astuti Parengkuh)
