A fine, grim political-economic history of Indonesia, from the
first colonial state to the appointment of Habibie after the
Suharto meltdown, from Simons (Libya: The Struggle for Survival,
not reviewed). Fine because Simons is a thorough yet fluent and
stirring writer, with an eye for attention-grabbing material and
also a humane, progressive outlook; grim in that the Indonesian
people, all 200 million of them, have had a very rude time of it,
since the Portuguese first set up camp there in the 16th century
right up until today. Simons starts his coverage with a gruesome
overview of human-rights abusesmass killings and mass arrests by
the government are simply a part of everyday life in Indonesiaand
the economic degradation of the Indonesian citizenry during the
period of Suhartos rule, aided and abetted by American and European
political interests. It is impossible for Simons not to simmer with
rage as he piles up evidence upon evidence of torture and murder,
at the army's hands, of a broad swath of Indonesians: anyone in
opposition to Suharto and plenty of innocents as wella cruel
sampling that seemingly touched each of the countrys 300 ethnic
groups. Using ample documentation, Simons demonstrates just how
culpable the US is for the bloodletting (conservatively estimated
at 250,000 dead civilians) that brought Suharto to power, as well
as for the arms dealing and the political and economic stranglehold
that kept him in power for 30 years. Finally, Simons argues that
sheer corruption and political sycophancy brought on the turmoil
that capsized the regime, only to have it replaced by Suharto's
lieutenant. An excellent country profile and a jarring reminder
that Indonesians continue to fight for democratic rights today,
something not lost on the East Timorese, the latest, most public
victims of Indonesian aggression. (Kirkus Reviews)
This work profiles the appalling human rights record of modern
Indonesia, against a history of the country. Brutal repression, the
unjust legal system and corrupt nepotism are described, with
attention to the independence struggles of the East Timorese and
West Papuans. The historical survey includes the anti colonialist
campaign, the role of Sukarno as first president, the Suharto
decades, the 1998 appointment of Habibie as third president and the
social chaos caused by economic collapse. It also describes also
how the United States and Britain plotted anti Sukarno coups,
supported 1960s massacres and protected the despotic Suharto
regime.
General
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