Member-only story
What Remains of Reformasi in Today’s Indonesia
This week marks the 79th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence. Celebrations will take place all around Indonesia, including upacara bendera (flag-raising ceremonies), parades in some cities, and festive and traditional games in local communities.
I was born during a period of widespread bloodshed in my country between 1965 and 1966. So, basically, I grew up under Soeharto’s totalitarian rule (1967–1998). Only after Reformasi (Reformation)1998 in my thirties, did I realize what true democracy is.
From my childhood to high school in Surakarta, Central Java, I had to attend flag-raising ceremonies at my schools every year. These ceremonies were a symbol of our independence. But even as a child, I sometimes felt disconnected, wilting in the scorching sun while standing firmly at attention. Several decades later, I thought this discomfort might reflect the anxious character of political reality during Suharto’s regime at that time, when the illusion of independence hid the terrible reality of an authoritarian power.
However, I enjoyed traditional community games. The informal celebrations, which included traditional games and competitions such as makan kerupuk (eating crackers), balap karung (sack races), and panjat pinang (climbing a slippery pole), were etched into my memory. Actually, I rarely engaged actively. I watched the games while searching for traditional snacks and food during the event.
As I’ve grown older and witnessed how the political situation has evolved, the meaning of independence has taken on a more complex and, at times, troubling significance. I notice a contrast between the innocent patriotism of my youth and the more complex feelings I hold today.
Despite our independence in 1945, we lived in an era without actual freedom and democracy under Suharto’s regime. The “New Order” administration centralized power…
