Shades of Grey: A Political Memoir of Modern Indonesia 1965-1998

by Jusuf Wanandi, Jeremy Wagstaff (Editor)

FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, Soeharto reigned as the most powerful man in Indonesia – President, father figure and infallible leader to millions. That span of the country’s history has remained largely opaque to the public, with confusion and vagaries obscuring the inner workings of his regime. In Shades of A Political Memoir of Modern Indonesia 1965-1998, longtime political insider Jusuf Wanandi, who worked closely with the President’s top advisors for decades, sheds light on the indecipherable dark of this period. From the day of the 1965 coup to the invasion of East Timor to Soeharto’s complex relationships with China, the communist party and Islamic activists, Wanandi draws on behind-the-scenes knowledge and lifelong experience to illuminate some of the most dramatic and less understood elements of Indonesian history.Both history scholars and political novices will learn much from this book, gaining greater comprehension of how Indonesia came to be what it is today, as well as coming to understand one of modern history’s largest political personalities. As the title suggests, nothing in this deeply layered story is black-and-white, no truths absolute in the violent and passionate tale of Indonesia’s journey toward full democracy, but Wanandi offers perhaps the most comprehensive and nuanced explanation to date. Though no history can tell all sides of a story, Shades of Grey – colored by Wanandi’s thoughtful voice, as well as humanizing anecdotes about great figures – paints a rich picture of a fascinating time, a picture that is sure to provoke debate and introspection for years to come.

ABOUT THE AUTHORJusuf Wanandi (1937), a native of Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, is a lawyer by training and an activist by calling. He co-founded the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in 1971 and amongst his many other responsibilities and appointments he currently serves as President Director of The Jakarta Post and Chairman of Prasetiya Mulya Business School. He lives in Jakarta with his wife and family. This is his third book.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indonesian Literature, Politics

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Dharma Agastia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jusuf Wanandi tells his story from being a street activist to being Suharto's adviser during New Order Indonesia.

This political memoir documents his encounters with various prominent political figures in Suharto's Indonesia, but perhaps the most interesting parts are his commentaries on events that happened during Suharto's leadership, both domestic and international. These commentaries serve to fill in some historical gaps which I have encountered during my research on Indonesia, especially when we think of the New Order as being a highly secretive and politicised period of Indonesia's modern history. It forces us to rethink Suharto's New Order not as a monolithic system of patrimonialism, rather as an intricate play involving many colorful characters with their own idiosyncracies.

For example, it was often thought that Suharto was adamant on invading East Timor. However, Wanandi tells us Suharto was initially reluctant since East Timor was never part of Indonesia in the first place. It was the military who egged him on. Likewise, Wanandi sheds light on figures around Suharto, such as Ali Murtopo and General Benny Murdani, and how they were involved in many feats, such as the establishment of CSIS and influencing Indonesia's foreign and domestic policies.

The title is apt. Wanandi shows us that the New Order was not a binary "black-white" period of history; it was smothered with shades of grey. Compromises had to be made, conflicts of interest between constituents of the bureaucracy happened. These background players make up these shades of grey.

One needs to have some baseline historical knowledge on the New Order, and ideally some cultural knowledge, prior to reading this book as it doesn't provide such a background. This isn't an academic work; it is a personal memoir.

[Anthony Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insider's point of view on the evolution of modern Indonesia. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have at least a fair baseline of knowledge, however.

[Devina Heriyanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's not kidding with the word 'menyibak'.

[Emil · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about orde baru and soeharto. A lot of insider info

[Muhammad Irfan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orde Baru yang penuh gejolak diceritakan disini. Buku pengungkapan tabir orde baru versi Jusuf Wanandi dan CSIS.

*review lengkap menyusul

[Cathreen Shiucheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for in-depth reading on Indonesia's domestic reading...I love the pArt where Mahathir misinterpreted suharto's word..haha

[Affandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

mencari tahu lebih banyak tentang sejarah orde baru

[Wilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berkisah tentang peristiwa dari keruntuhan demokrasi terpimpin hingga jatuhnya orde baru.
- 1965: soeharto pada awal diberlakukannya demokrasi terpimpin mengusulkan agar dilaksanakannya ajaran NASAKOM (nasional, agama, komunis) karena saat itu soekarno tepengaruh anggota militer PKI dan ia beranggapan agar disatukannya ajaran tersebut untuk mengurangi konflik.
- NASAKOM GAGAL: soekarno saat itu sakit keras, PKI yg ingin segera melakukan kudeta mendesak bung karno, kejadian ini sudah di ketahui oleh kalangan anti-PKI (non-islam+islam+mahsasiswa). Kalangan anti
-PKI berhasil menggaggalkan dengan didukung oleh para tentara yg anti-PKI yg memiliki pengaruh besar terhadap bung karno, salah satunya Soeharto. Kelompok non-militer mendesak soeharto agar segera membubarkan PKI.
- Saat itu seluruh perwira militer disuruh bung karno ke lapangan halim, tapi soeharto menolak dan seluruh perwira menolak juga, akhirnya kudeta tidak terjadi.
- Antar anggota PKI terjadi miscom yg mengakibatkan pertumpahan darah, yang mana saat itu Dewan Revolusi yg didirikan PKI mau didirikan tapi gagal sebelum lahir.
- Kudeta gagal, terjadi kekosongan kepemimpinan. Sebelumnya PKI sudah membunuh para perwira yg dianggap pengaruh PKI, dimasukkan di lubang buaya. Kekosongan terjadi para militer atau kopassus bingung mendengarkan perintah siapa akhirya 30 sptember terjadi perpecahan yg lebih mengarah ke balas dendam dengan diselimuti dalil PKI.
- AU,AL pro bung karno. AD pro soeharto.
- Banyak teori yg menasumsikan siapa dalang dari kejadian GESTAPU. Ada yg bilang soekarno, soeharto, panglima kostrad, militer pengawal presiden
- Soeharto merupakan seseorang yang memiliki daya ingat fotografis (Ingatan fotografis adalah kemampuan untuk mengingat peristiwa, gambar, angka, suara, bau, dan hal-hal lainnya dengan sangat rinci).
- Masyarakat indonesia itu mayoritas muslim tapi bukan negara islam - Gus Dur&Cak Nur
- Keruntuhan soeharto dipengaruhi oleh kelemahan emosional, politik, krisis ekonomi, sosial budaya
- Saat soeharto runtuh, istrinya ibu tin telah meninggal dan soeharto menangisinya. Ibu tien orang yg baik tidak ada niatan untuk KKN. Ibu tien Cuma buat TMII soalnya terinspitasi dari kunjungannya ke Filipina
- Prabowo subianto, menantu Soaeharto, orang yg terkenal pemarah dan tempramen. Nikahnya dengan anak soeharto tidak berjalan mulus.
- Benny moerdani dan ali moertopo paling berpengaruh (tokoh intel militer). Pak ali terkenal berani sewaktu konflik dengan malaysia. Benny sangat loyal ke soeharto tapi soeharto tidak percaya pada siapapun orang orang terdekatnya
- B.J habibie, termasuk lingkaran KKN, mendirikan pesawat tapi dari dana negara. Padahal dia hanya berkontribusi membuat bagian ekor
- Operasi flamboyan, operasi katak, operasi lainnya merupakan operasi yg dilakukan oleh intel militer
- A.H. Hendropriyono ikut mendukung penggulingan megawati soekarno putri
- Soeharto tertutup dengan kerjasama inter, tetapi setelah keberhasilannya di seasembada pangan, ia tertarik. Usulan jusuf wardandi selalu ditolak jika tentang kerja sama china soalnya soeharto menganggap pki waktu itu di backing i china
- Masalah timor timur dulu harusnya bisa menjadi bagian indonesia tetapi ada miscom dengan pihak australia dan operasi yg dilakukan benny terlalu agresif sehingga menimbulkan kayak perang/di jajah lagi timor timur oleh indonesia. Soeharto tidak terlalu menggubris hal ini. Dikira masalah timor timur bisa diselesaikan kayak perpera papua tapi ternyata jauh lebih kompleks karena ada krisis kelaparan yg memprihatinkan dan austrasia miscom dengan indo. Porlandia ga ambil timor timur soalnya saat itu terjadi krisis juga di porlandia yg menyebabkan tidak bisa mengbackup timor timur
- Supersemar yg ditulis soekarno dan dibacakan soeharto berbeda. Soeharto tidak bilang ada pelindungan untuk keluarga soekarno padahal soekarno meminta

[Alessandro Manuel Rustanto Sitompul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini seperti “ the devil’s advocate” bagi rezim Orde Baru. Kasihan Jusuf Wanandi, mimpinya begitu besar untuk bangsa ini namun selalu kandas karena berbagai hal.

Namun, perannya tetap tidak bisa diampuni karena ia membantu mendirikan rezim yang korup, nepotis, diskrimjnatif & tidak manusiawi. Penyesalan, ya penyesalan.

[Muhammad Fachreza Rahmadian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku yang sangat menarik, menunjukkan kedekatan seseorang dengan penguasa Orde Baru dari awal kekuasaan hingga akhirnya. Dari buku ini, baik Jusuf maupun CSIS memiliki posisi yang ambivalen, yakni memiliki akses langsung kepada Soeharto tapi tidak sampai mendikte setiap langkah dan kebijakannya.

[Arikson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double minority p.o.v during Orba transition and its ruling. Unlike on podcast, here JW is relatively balance in his perspective and subtle in his choice of words.

[Yusril]

Melihat bagaimana rezim yang menguasai Indonesia selama 32 tahun terbangun, berjalan, hingga kejatuhannya menurut sudut pandang Jusuf Wanandi dan CSIS-nya yang terlibat dalam proses-proses tersebut.
Patut dibaca, banyak hal yang akan cukup mengagetkan, terlebih bagi yang awam (termasuk saya) dengan peristiwa-peristiwa pada masa Orde Baru serta figur-figur mulai dari Soekarno, Soeharto itu sendiri, sampai Prabowo Subianto bahkan Alm. B.J. Habibie.

[Inggirwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku yang sangat menarik untuk dapat memahami kondisi Indonesia era Orba. Menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama yang berada di dalam lingkaran istana