Book Review Aidit: “Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara”

Zsazsa Bhaskara Pramudhita and Prihantoro, S.S., M.A. English Department, Faculty of Humanity, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275

Abstract

DN Aidit is the most controversial figure in ’s history. DN Aidit’s name become some kind of taboo to be discussed or talked. After the “New Order” era, DN Aidit’s name begin to be discussed on media again. Many books discussed DN Aidit, one of them is Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara. This book discussed two sides of DN Aidit, DN Aidit’s good side and bad side. This book offers a more complete version of DN Aidit. This final project will discuss and analize about this book. Keyword: DN Aidit, Indonesia’s history, two sides of DN Aidit, G30S/PKI. Abstrak DN Aidit merupakan tokoh paling kontroversial dalam sejarah bangsa Indonesia. Nama DN Aidit menjadi hal tabu untuk dibicarakan atau didiskusikan. Setelah masa orde baru berakhir nama DN Aidit kembali banyak didiskusikan melalui beragam media baik lisan maupun cetak. Banyak buku yang membahas DN Aidit , salah satunya adalah Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara. Buku ini berisi dua sisi dari DN Aidit yaitu sisi baik dan sisi buruk. Dan buku ini menyajikan versi yang lebih komplet dari tokoh yang kontroversial ini. Final project ini akan mencoba untuk menganalisisnya. Kata kunci: DN Aidit, sejarah Indonesia, dua sisi DN Aidit, G30S/PKI.

CHAPTER I he is and what he has done but there are INTRODUCTION still many things about DN Aidit that 1.1. Background of Writing still remain undiscovered and untold. History is a series of events that Most of Indonesians would think that happened in the past that affects the DN Aidit is the brain of 1965 coup. In future. Everything within the world has September 1965, many Indonesians its own history. History itself has believed, DN Aidit and his communist recorded uncountable series of events party caused a flame in most Indonesia that happened in very long time. region at that time. It is said that Indonesia as a country also has a very thousands or maybe millions of long history. Many people have human’s life is wasted. 30 years have involved in Indonesia’s history. Among passed and DN Aidit is still believed as many names that involved in an evil man who caused that tragedy. Indonesia’s history Dipa Nusantara There are many ideas that support that Aidit is the most controversial one. DN idea. Aidit has both clear and mysterious In this paper the writer would like to history. Most Indonesians known who review a book entitled Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara. The writer reader a ‘blueprint’ of this paper, about would review the book and share the the pieces that the writer would make facts and ideas about DN Aidit within into one unity called a paper. The next the book. The review is mainly about chapter will provide the writer a brief the title of the book itself, Aidit: Dua yet important biography of a man called Wajah Dipa Nusantara. The review will DN Aidit. As the third chapter that focus on Aidit’s life from his childhood would be the most important part of the until his final days, about his political paper, the writer would fill it with two views, about how he built his party. different views and ideas. The common There are always two sides of a coin, view and idea in Indonesia that consider means that everything in this world is DN Aidit was a communist rebel. On relative and has both good and bad side. the other hand the writer would provide DN Aidit also has bad and good side, the reader about another side of DN DN Aidit is believed to be the man Aidit, about where he comes from, behind a series of tragedy in October about his family and many more. The 1965. For almost 40 years the name writer would also add his personal Aidit was like ‘Judas’ in Christianity. comments and opinion about this book. Indonesian think or forced to think that The last chapter would be the DN Aidit is the evil guy. No one ever conclusion where the writer would close consider that DN Aidit was also this paper with a value or lesson that we involved in youth movement during the could find and get from the book and early days of Indonesia’s independence. the paper itself. This paper will reveal the unknown side 1.2. Purposes of Writing of DN Aidit so that the reader could see The writer’s purposes of the writing are: a more complete version of DN Aidit 1. To summarize “Aidit: Dua and see DN Aidit from different side. Wajah Dipa Nusantara.” The purpose of this review itself is to 2. To review “Aidit: Dua Wajah give the reader clearer ideas about DN Dipa Nusantara.” Aidit. Besides using the book entitled 3. To give the reader a different Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara, the view about DN Aidit by presenting writer would use other books to support more facts and details about DN Aidit the fact and details about DN Aidit. 1.3. Short Biography of Dipa Nusantara Another source related with DN Aidit Aidit also would be used, for example article According the book entitled Aidit: Dua and pdf file from the internet. Of course Wajah Dipa Nusantara, Aidit was born the writer would use a good and reliable from a wealthy family in Belitong, source from the internet. The writer south sumatera, D.N. Aidit is the eldest would use a movie to give more view of six children. His father, Abdullah about DN Aidit, the movie entitled Aidit is an officer in forestry Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (1982). department, a high position at that time. The paper would be divided into four D.N. Aidit’s mother, Mailan, is a chapters, on the first chapter the writer Ningrat heir. Mailan’s father was a would tell the reason behind the landlord. People in Belitong often said choosing of this book, Aidit: Dua that this family’s land is so wide. Wajah Dipa Nusantara. On this first Meanwhile, Abdullah Aidit is the son of chapter, the writer would give the Haji Ismail, a successful businessman in fishery. D.N. Aidit’s father had many Indonesia. , Magetan, Blora, sero, place to fishing in the sea, and he Cepu and cities in east and Central is the largest fish seller in the market. Java were conquered by the Communist As D.N. Aidit came from wealthy Party and its people. However, this family, he had many friends from revolutionary action finally failed, and different races and different lost his life by a rifle’s army. It background. Because of Haji Ismail’s was a bitter experience for DN Aidit, he wealth, his children could study at HIS lost his mentor. (Hollandsc Inlandsche School). His son DN Aidit never gave up on the was very religious. After the class Aidit Communist Party. Three years after the and his brother learned to read Quran. Madiun rebellion, DN Aidit overtook After graduating from HIS, 13 years old the leadership of the Communist Party D.N. Aidit said to his father that he from the old generation. With his wanted to go to . The reason was comrades and Lukman, they there was no higher education in became the backbone of the Communist Belitong at that time. To enter high Party. Under DN Aidit, Njoto and school or called as MULO the youth Lukman, the Communist Party grew should go to or Jakarta. bigger and become the largest Unfortunately, when Aidit arrived at Communist Party in non-communist Jakarta the enrollment to MULO had country. In the 1955 elections been closed. Finally Aidit enrolled to Communist Party succeeded in getting MHS (Middestand Handel School) a over six millions votes. business and trading school in Central In 1965 there were a series of events Jakarta. After all Aidit never graduated that made Communist Party and DN from MHS. Aidit was more interested in Aidit collapsed and destroyed until politics than his study. nowadays. September 30th 1965 five Aidit began to gain interest about generals of the army were killed, DN communism after he met a guy named Aidit and the Communist Party were , an underground activist of blamed for being the mastermind of Communist Party in West Java. Books those events. After that, DN Aidit about Marxism and Communism moved to several cities in became his main reading. DN Aidit and finally on the November 22nd 1965 passion about Communism gained more DN Aidit was captured in Solo. The after he met Musso who just returned next morning aidit was executed in from Uni Soviet. DN Aidit was Boyolali, but the location of where the impressed by Musso’s ideas and body of DN Aidit was buried is still visions. In 1948 the 25 years old DN unknown. Aidit got an important position as a 1.4 Figures Mentioned on the Book coordinator of labor section in the Dipa Nusantara Aidit: The leader of Communist Party. A month after Central Committee PKI. received that position, in September MH Lukman : Second vice 18th 1948, in Madiun, leader of PKI. thousands of people consist of labor and Soetanti : Wife of Dipa farmer overtook the government. Musso Nusantara Aidit and the Communist Party tried to build Moedigdo : Father of what he called as Soviet Republik Soetanti. Mailan : Mother of Dipa Indonesia, a legendary story which is Nusantara Aidit. full with myth. This section is directing Musso : Mentor of Dipa the reader about what the book’s main Nusantara Aidit, issue would be. The stories and ideas Njoto : First vice leader about DN Aidit within this section of PKI. causes a curiosity to the reader, try to Soeharto : The man who keep the reader to get along and read the lead the extermination of G30S. next sections carefully. Soekarno : The first The second part of the book president of Indonesia. acknowledge about DN Aidit family, Arifin C. Noer : The director of childhood and his very first journey to Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI movie. Jakarta. As written in this chapter, DN Syu’bah Asa : A poet, the man Aidit was born in Belitung, July 23rd who played as 1923. His father gave him a name Dipa Nusantara Achmad Aidit. Later, Achmad Aidit Aidit in changed his name into Dipa Nusantara Pengkhianatan Aidit. Aidit was born in a wealthy G30S/PKI family so that he could have many movie. friends from different background and Muhammad Hatta : Proclamator status. As a boy Achmad Aidit was of Indonesia religious, after school he learned to read Independence, Quran and he was the Muadzin at the the first vice local mosque because of his loud voice. president of As the reader read the next section they Indonesia will find three major issues on this CHAPTER II section: first is about the family tree of SUMMARY DN Aidit’s family, the second is about Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara is a DN Aidit early time in politics and book that consists of 143 pages. This about his career in Communist party book was published by Kepustakaan and the last is about DN Aidit love Populer Gramedia in October 2010. story, maybe this story has never been Unlike another book that is made by read before. From the family tree of DN one person, this book is created by a Aidit we could see that DN Aidit has team. This book tells the story of DN six siblings, and later he will have six Aidit and the sources of the book itself children. are taken from the special report of As for the closing of the section, there is Tempo weekly edition in 2007 until a love story of Dipa Nusantara Aidit 2010. This book main focus is about with a girl named Soetanti that later will DN Aidit, about his ideas, untold stories be his wife. In 1946, DN Aidit first met and his life journey. Soetanti at the office of This book is divided into 6 sections. Magazine. Soetanti came with her The first section of this book presents friend and finally knew DN Aidit an introduction of DN Aidit. The first personally. After that first meeting section gives the reader a little piece Soetanti often visited Bintang Merah about of DN Aidit, stories around DN office to meet DN Aidit, she brought Aidit that is considered as a taboo in more friends from Sarekat Mahasiswa Indonesia. Soetanti asked DN Aidit to youth was when they forced Ir. lecture her and her friends about Soekarno and to politics, because at that time DN Aidit announce the independence of had become an important member in the Indonesia as soon as possible. When Ir. Communist Party branch in Solo. Since Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta finally that kind of meeting Soetanti often visit rejected their idea the youth decided to DN Aidit in Solo. The next visit was not bring Ir. Soekarno and Mohammad in Bintang Merah office but in PKI Hatta to Rengasdengklok. The office. Rengasdengklok incident could be Once upon a time, after DN Aidit was described as a kidnapping, the youth giving a speech he walked towards used this way to change the decision of Soetanti and gave her a letter. DN Aidit their older generation. Their plan was asked Soeatanti to give the letter to his successful, after the Rengasdengklok father, Moedigdo. Soetanti’s father was incident Ir. Soekarno and Mohammad a police officer in Semarang. The letter Hatta announce the proclamation on was a proposal to marry Soetanti and August 17th 1945. Moedigdo was agreed. Then in 1948, 25 The next phase of DN Aidit life was his years old DN Aidit was married to 24 vision about Communism and his career years old Soetanti. DN Aidit and in the Communist Party. Aidit began to Soetanti were married in Islamic ways. gain interest about communism after he There was no wedding party and only met a guy named Wikana, an attended by close family members. underground activist of Communist During his life DN Aidit only loved his Party in West Java. Books about wife, Soetanti. Before or after the Marxism and Communism became his marriage DN Aidit also never had a main reading. DN Aidit’s passion about special relationship with a certain Communism gained more after he met woman. As a man he had a principal, he Musso who just returned from Uni was anti-polygamy. When DN Aidit Soviet. DN Aidit was impressed by was the leader of Communist party the Musso’s ideas and visions. In 1948 the anti-polygamy and anti-affair act 25 years old DN Aidit got an important became the principal of the Communist position as a coordinator of labor Party. section in the Communist Party. On page 33 until page 43 the book DN Aidit never gave up on Communist discusses the role of DN Aidit before Party. Three years after the Madiun the proclamation of independent of rebellion, DN Aidit overtook the Indonesia. The journey was begun when leadership of Communist Party from the DN Aidit entered Menteng 31 old generation. With his comrades boardinghouse which is inhabited by the Njoto and Lukman, they became the youth that had the same spirit and vision backbone of Communist Party. Under as DN Aidit. Together with the DN Aidit, Njoto and Lukman, revolutionary youth DN Aidit did many Communist Party grew bigger and sabotages and fights with the Dutch and became the largest Communist Party in Japan Army. The youth did not only non-communist country. In the 1955 struggle through power but also through election Communist Party succeeded in negotiation and diplomacy. The most getting over six millions votes. important role of this revolutionary The next chapter of the book tells the Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI. This movie reader about the chronology of DN was directed by Arifin C. Noer and was Aidit activities after G30S/PKI. October produced in 1982. DN Aidit’s role was 2nd 1965 morning DN Aidit arrived in played by Syu’bah Asa. Syu’bah Asa Jogjakarta. On that day DN Aidit had a difficulty in describe DN Aidit, travelled to 3 cities: Jogjakarta, there were no reliable source about DN Semarang and Solo. DN Aidit met the Aidit because his family had spread leader of PKI in those areas and held a abroad. Finally, Syu’bah Asa dug the meeting about G30S. On October 5th information about DN Aidit from 1965 he DN Aidit went to Blitar and Amarzan Ismail Hamid, Amarzan was a held a meeting together with PKI’s poet who knows DN Aidit personally. Politbiro. He spent his last days in Solo, Amarzan told Syu’bah Asa that DN he hid in Solo and finally was captured Aidit did not have a big charisma unlike on November 22nd 1965 and on another Communist leader like Mao November 23rd 1965 he was executed Zedong and Ho Chi Minh. Apart from in Boyolali. the pros and contras about The exact location of where DN Aidit Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI, one thing was buried is still mysterious. This topic that could not be denied, the people of is discussed on page 79 until 83. Some 70’s generation and later get the only people believed DN Aidit was buried on visualization of DN Aidit from the an old well behind the base of 444 movie. Battalion in Boyolali, 25 kilometers The last chapter of the book was about from Solo. The location of the grave of the books about DN Aidit which was DN Aidit was still uncertain because the published after the new order regime old well was disappearing without has fallen. After the reformation era leaving a mark. there are many books discussed about The next chapter discusses about the DN Aidit for examples: Aidit Sang ‘victims’ of September 30th 1965 Legenda, Ibarruri Putri Alam: Anak tragedy. The family of both DN Aidit Sulung DN Aidit, Aidit, Abang, and Pahlawan Revolusi family have Sahabat dan Guru di Masa Pergolakan, suffered many pain and trauma. DN Menolak Menyerah; Menyingkap Tabir Aidit’s family good life was destroyed Keluarga Aidit, Pergolakan Politik after the horror of G30S. DN Aidit’s Tentara Sebelum dan Sesudah wife and children were separated away G30S/PKI and Siapa Menabur Angin from each other. The daughters of DN Akan Menuai Badai. There are books Aidit were exiled from Indonesia and that are written by DN Aidit’s family, moved from one country to another the books that are written by Aidit’s country to survive. As for the family of family acknowledge the reader with the Pahlawan Revolusi, they still had a human side of DN Aidit. These books trauma even after 40 years. Their try to ‘clean’ DN Aidit’s name and trauma could not be easily erased image. because they witnessed the death of CHAPTER III their husband or their father. REVIEW OF THE BOOK From page 105 until page 112 the book A. General View about Dipa discussed about DN Aidit’s Nusantara Aidit visualization on a movie entitled Almost 48 years has passed after the cruel and rude. The reason behind the tragedy on September 30th 1965, but thoughts and ideas that Dipa Nusantara many questions still cover the worst Aidit is cruel and rude is that the tragedy of Indonesia. Behind all Indonesians have read and been stuffed mysteries about the tragedy there is a with many history books that disfigure man that is blamed for being the Dipa Nusantara Aidit. mastermind of the tragedy. Dipa 2. Dipa Nusantara Aidit and his Nusantara Aidit as a leader of PKI party PKI are believed as atheist and (Communist Party of Indonesia is anti-god. blamed for the tragedy that cost Indonesians have been indoctrinated thousands of human life (it is even said that communist is anti-god and atheist. millions). In fact, Communist and Atheism are In 80’s and early 90’s, every year the different idealism. It is also said that government of Indonesia always Dipa Nusantara Aidit and PKI want to broadcasted a movie on September erase the first point of Pancasila, 30th. The movie was about G30S/PKI Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa. and the antagonist of the movie was DN 3. Dipa Nusantara Aidit is tricky. Aidit and his Communist Party. During Indonesian believed that Dipa that period the movie was the only Nusantara Aidit is tricky from seeing explanation about what happened in the Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI movie. September 30th 1965. As the movie On the movie the viewer will get an described DN Aidit as an antagonist so impression that Dipa Nusantara Aidit is the common view and comment about tricky. On the movie Dipa Nusantara him was always negative. Aidit always thinks the plan about When discussing about Dipa Nusantara G30S movement. We would see a scene Aidit the thoughts and ideas are mostly when Dipa Nusantara Aidit was negative. Under the Soeharto’s regime, smoking, in fact in the real life Dipa Aidit name becomes some kind of taboo Nusantara Aidit does not smoke that is rarely mentioned. During this B. Different View About Dipa ‘New Order’ era Dipa Nusantara Aidit Nusantara Aidit After Reading The and his Communist Party or PKI are Book never heard or discussed because Dipa After reading the book and understand Nusantara Aidit’s idealism and his the content of the book the reader will Communist Party are banned forever in acknowledge different point of view Indonesia. Many books that mention about DN Aidit. The reader would Dipa Nusantara Aidit mostly write a achieve a new thought and see Dipa bad side of him. The media give a scary Nusantara Aidit as ‘normal’ person. The image to Dipa Nusantara Aidit and his book also provides more complete Communist Party. Whether it is true or stories of DN Aidit and can see DN not, below are some negative yet Aidit objectively. Below are other common ideas or thoughts about Dipa views of Dipa Nusantara Aidit that will Nusantara Aidit: be found within the book: 1. Dipa Nusantara Aidit is cruel 1. Dipa Nusantara Aidit came from and rude. a religious family. Most of Indonesians have the thoughts Dipa Nusantara Aidit was always and ideas that Dipa Nusantara Aidit is identified as Communist even atheist. But when we learn about Dipa Dipa Nusantara Aidit wrote poetry from Nusantara Aidit’s history we could find 1946 until 1965. He wrote poetry that Dipa Nusantara Aidit came from because his idol Mao Zedong, the religious family. On his childhood Dipa Chinese Communist leader, also wrote Nusantara Aidit was a Muadzin on the poetry. Dipa Nusantara Aidit’s poetry local mosque. After school Dipa theme was about his party and Nusantara Aidit and his brothers always revolution. His poetry usually published learned to read Koran. Dipa Nusantara in and Suara Ibukota. Aidit had finished reading Koran or Dipa Nusantara Aidit used his poetry as Qatam. a media to express his ideas about 2. As a man Dipa Nusantara Aidit actual events at that time. Aidit also is very faithful towards his wife. He is wrote many books, of course the book also anti-polygamy. was also about Communist Party and During his life Dipa Nusantara Aidit revolution. Thiese are some titles of the only loved a woman, his wife Soetanti. books which are written by Dipa He is very faithful toward his wife and Nusantara Aidit: Hajo! Ringkus dan this anti-polygamy act also become Ganjang Kontra-Revolusi, Kaum Tani ‘rule’ in his party, PKI. During the Mengganjang Setan-Setan Desa, glorious time of PKI, many members of Konfrontasi Peristiwa Madiun 1948 PKI were kicked out from the party Peristiwa Sumatera 1956, etc. because of cheating with a woman that C. Personal Comments About The is not his wife. Even the vice chairman Book of PKI was punished because of that When someone finished doing ‘rule’. something they must have some 3. Dipa Nusantara Aidit was active impression, opinion or comment about in youth movement before and after the that thing. It is the same when someone proclamation of Indonesia’s finished reading a book, there must be independent. an impression, opinion or comment Dipa Nusantara Aidit and his comrades about the book. Below are some in Menteng 31 boardinghouse were an comments and opinion of the writer active youth in revolutionary action. It about the book: is said that Dipa Nusantara Aidit also 1. The book is very good because involved in Rengasdengklok incident the book provides the reader the story of that trigger the proclamation of Dipa Nusantara Aidit that is still Indonesia’s independent. Dipa unknown or rarely discussed in another Nusantara Aidit also created Angkatan media. Pemuda Indonesia (API) and become 2. The book uses many sources and the vice leader. Together with API, the source is reliable. The reader could Dipa Nusantara Aidit strikes the find information about Dipa Nusantara Japanese army and the Dutch army. Aidit and other phenomenon on the Because of his action Dipa Nusantara book from different view. Aidit was brought to jail in Onrust 3. The chapters of the book are Island. coherent. The stories of Dipa Nusantara 4. Dipa Nusantara Aidit is also a Aidit are told smoothly so that the poet and book writer. reader could easily understand the content of the book. 4. The book takes information and Dipa Nusantara Aidit’s name. The comment from the person personally writer chooses this book because of its involved in the events. unique value that the reader could learn 5. The book also uses images to from such a fallen figure like Dipa add the details of the events. However Nusantara Aidit. From the book we the writer thinks that it is better if the could learn that there are people that images are in color not black and white. totally good or totally bad. CHAPTER IV To conclude the paper, the writer would CONCLUSION like to lend Ir. Soekarno’s famous It is said that book is the window of the saying “JASMERAH: jangan sekali- world. The meaning of that saying is sekali melupakan sejarah”. That saying when someone is reading a book he means that we could not forget about could learn or experience the thing that the past or history. There are things that is very far from him. The book also could be learnt from history, in this case could give the reader about the events by knowing Dipa Nusantara Aidit’s that happened long time ago. In short, history we should managed to pick the book gives information, knowledge and good values from him and we should value for the reader. And as the paper learn about his mistake. discussed about Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa BIBLIOGRAPHY Nusantara book so the writer hoped that Aidit, Sobron. 2005. Penalti Tanpa the reader could get a positive value and Wasit. Jakarta: PT. Gramedia message from the book. Widiasarana Indonesia. Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara is a Tempo, 2010. Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa book about the most controversial Nusantara. Jakarta: Kepustakaan person in Indonesia’s history. The book Populer Gramedia. tells about two different sides about Chang,J. & Halliday,J. 2007. Mao: The Dipa Nusantara Aidit, the book Unknown Story. Jakarta: Gramedia discussed about why this man become a Pustaka Utama. taboo in Indonesia and at the other side Sadili,H & Echols J M. 2003. Kamus also discussed about his journey until Inggris Indonesia. Jakarta: Gramedia his death. This book provide a complete Pustaka Utama. stories about Dipa Nusantara Aidit, 1.1. there are stories that rarely known by people, also the stories that being told by Dipa Nusantara Aidit’s family and friends and there are also stories from the books that described him as cruel and tricky leader of PKI. Overall Aidit: Dua Wajah Dipa Nusantara is a good book, the book contains complete information about Dipa Nusantara Aidit and the sources of the book are credible and reliable. There are many positive and good stories about Dipa Nusantara Aidit, but the writer discussed this book not to ‘clean’