A photo essay about families of the disappeared

Henry Ismail

In early 1998, only months prior to President Suharto’s resignation, in the midst of severe economic crisis, a number of pro-democracy activists suddenly disappeared. Some of them surfaced again. Individuals like Pius Lustrilanang (abducted on 4 February 1998, released on 2 April 1998), Faisol Reza (abducted on 12 March 1998, released on 25 April 1998), and Raharja Waluya Jati (abducted on 12 March 1998, released on 26 April 1998) testified that they were kidnapped by military officers and held secretly at detention centres where they were interrogated and tortured.

This essay presents a series of photographs which reveal aspects of the lives of the families of abducted activists who have not returned, either because they are known to be dead or because they are still missing. They are Suyat, Bimo Petrus Anugrah (Bimo), Widji Thukul (Thukul), and Leonardus Gilang Nugroho (Gilang). The families feel ongoing misery and loss. However, they still hope they will find their loved ones or achieve justice for them. This hope never dies.

The painful past should be remembered, not covered over or swept aside

Suyat was a student activist when he was abducted from his friend’s house in Sragen, Central Java. Being the most intelligent and most educated of his siblings, Suyat was expected to improve the family’s lot. Suyat’s mother is a housewife. She and Suyat’s father are separated. Suyat has two brothers, Suyadi and Suyatno. Both of them work as carpenters.

Suyat’s family (left to right): Suyadi, Tamiyem (Suyat’s mother), Suyatno. Suyat was a student activist who was abducted    by military personnel one night in 1998. Before they kidnapped Suyat, the soldiers abducted Suyatno (Suyat’s brother)    and forced him to tell them Suyat’s whereabouts. Suyat is still missing.

Suyadi (one of Suyat’s brothers) works as carpenter. He still hopes that Suyat will return some day.