'Breaking the Silence' on a massacre

"A collective memoir documents the experiences during the 1965-66 anti-Communist purges in Indonesia that left half a million people dead."

It is one of the darkest periods in modern Indonesian history, and the least discussed, until now. The new book - Breaking the Silence, is a collective memoir of 15 men and women who experienced the dark times that also ushered in the 32-year rule of President Suharto and his 'New Order'." The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : 'Breaking the Silence' on a massacre

It began with a coup attempt against President Sukarno, in which six top generals were killed. Suharto, then a general, helped put down the putsch and took control of the army. He blamed Communists for the revolt and led a campaign to purge the country of party members and other leftists. In the months that followed, security forces, local militias and vigilantes hunted down and killed thousands of people.

Sharing accounts of the time, particularly with the young, was "an expression of fighting to become human again". It is important not only to discuss the purges, but also to make amends to the victims.