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We Have Tired of Violence: A True Story of Murder, Memory, and the Fight for Justice in Indonesia
A chilling work of true crime about the midair murder of a human rights activist, set against a riveting political drama in the world's fourth-largest nation
On a warm Jakarta night in September 2004, Munir said goodbye to his wife and friends at the airport. He was bound for the Netherlands to pursue a master's degree in human rights. But Munir never reached Amsterdam alive. Before his plane touched down, the thirty-eight-year-old--one of the leading human rights activists of his generation--lay dead in the fourth row.
Munir's daring investigation of the killings and abductions that occurred over three decades of authoritarian rule by the former president, Suharto, had earned him powerful enemies. Undeterred, Munir's wife, Suciwati, and his close friend, Usman Hamid, launched their own investigation. They soon uncovered a conspiracy involving spies, a mysterious co-pilot, threats of violence and black magic, and deadly poison.
Drawing on interviews, courtroom observation, leaked documents, and police files, this book uncovers the dramatic murder plot and the titanic struggle to bring the perpetrators of Munir's death to justice. Just as Patrick Radden Keefe's Say Nothing did for Northern Ireland, We Have Tired of Violence tells the story of a shocking crime that serves as a window into a captivating land still struggling to shake off a terrible legacy.
On a warm Jakarta night in September 2004, Munir said goodbye to his wife and friends at the airport. He was bound for the Netherlands to pursue a master's degree in human rights. But Munir never reached Amsterdam alive. Before his plane touched down, the thirty-eight-year-old--one of the leading human rights activists of his generation--lay dead in the fourth row.
Munir's daring investigation of the killings and abductions that occurred over three decades of authoritarian rule by the former president, Suharto, had earned him powerful enemies. Undeterred, Munir's wife, Suciwati, and his close friend, Usman Hamid, launched their own investigation. They soon uncovered a conspiracy involving spies, a mysterious co-pilot, threats of violence and black magic, and deadly poison.
Drawing on interviews, courtroom observation, leaked documents, and police files, this book uncovers the dramatic murder plot and the titanic struggle to bring the perpetrators of Munir's death to justice. Just as Patrick Radden Keefe's Say Nothing did for Northern Ireland, We Have Tired of Violence tells the story of a shocking crime that serves as a window into a captivating land still struggling to shake off a terrible legacy.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2022
51 people are currently reading
2436 people want to read
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January 17, 2023
Incredible. One of the best books that I read in 2022.
We Have Tired of Violence is a critical work of investigative journalism exploring human rights abuses and crimes against humanity in Indonesia. The evil perpetuated by the military is astonishing, to say the least. The fact that various nefarious entities could orchestrate an assassination on an international flight flying out of the country is despicable. The fortitude of those fighting for justice, risking their lives and families by standing in opposition to these atrocities is immense. Though the story is centered around the murdered human rights activist, Munir; the story is also heavily about a country filled with thousands of students, laborers, mothers, and civilians who are tired of the silencing, intimidation, disappearances, murders, and more perpetuated on them by a military rule and government who is trying to maintain a silent, unopposed, solitary power by any means necessary.
What happened to Munir is a travesty and so much is revealed about the case, but more specifically about the tenacity, resilience, and persistence of his wife, mentees, and friends - both on behalf of Munir, and the people of Indonesia. These are the people who showed up to court every day, who were innovative in their strategies connecting with the United Nations and external countries to bring attention to the case, civilians who stood with every development in the case, every setback, and more to fight for the freedom and future of their country. Journalist Matt Easton captures that continued fight and the pressure for accountability in a country filled with as much corruption as there is beauty. Five stars.
We Have Tired of Violence is a critical work of investigative journalism exploring human rights abuses and crimes against humanity in Indonesia. The evil perpetuated by the military is astonishing, to say the least. The fact that various nefarious entities could orchestrate an assassination on an international flight flying out of the country is despicable. The fortitude of those fighting for justice, risking their lives and families by standing in opposition to these atrocities is immense. Though the story is centered around the murdered human rights activist, Munir; the story is also heavily about a country filled with thousands of students, laborers, mothers, and civilians who are tired of the silencing, intimidation, disappearances, murders, and more perpetuated on them by a military rule and government who is trying to maintain a silent, unopposed, solitary power by any means necessary.
What happened to Munir is a travesty and so much is revealed about the case, but more specifically about the tenacity, resilience, and persistence of his wife, mentees, and friends - both on behalf of Munir, and the people of Indonesia. These are the people who showed up to court every day, who were innovative in their strategies connecting with the United Nations and external countries to bring attention to the case, civilians who stood with every development in the case, every setback, and more to fight for the freedom and future of their country. Journalist Matt Easton captures that continued fight and the pressure for accountability in a country filled with as much corruption as there is beauty. Five stars.
September 17, 2024
Sejak di bagian awal buku ini, Easton punya argumen yang bikin ragu: “Kisah hayat dan wafatnya Munir ternyata menjadi cara untuk memahami Indonesia modern—dalam sisi terbaik dan terburuknya.”
Benarkah demikian?
Meracunkan Munir, mungkin, adalah salah satu konspirasi pembunuhan paling menyita perhatian sepanjang republik ini berdiri. Terjadi tak lama setelah Orde Baru tumbang, keran informasi terbuka lebar, penggalangan kampanye mudah dilakukan. Bahkan, pada 2006, Suciwati bisa mendapatkan petisi dukungan dari 68 anggota Kongres Amerika Serikat—salah satunya Bernie Sanders—yang mendesak Presiden SBY selesaikan kasus kematian suaminya.
Namun segala konteks sosiologis itu tidak cukup. Soeharto jatuh tapi anasir-anasirnya masih ada dan terus berlipat ganda. Proses hukum kasus Munir sejak awal tak transparan. Berliku dan gelap bak di labirin. Kepala Badan Intelijen Negara (BIN) saat itu, seorang jenderal militer di balik kasus pembantaian di Talangsari 1989, yang diduga menjadi otak pembunuhan lebih kooperatif saat dipanggil polisi ketimbang tim independen buatan presiden.
Berbekal sarjana antropologi dan riset belasan tahun perkara hak asasi di Indonesia, kekuatan utama Easton justru ada pada bagaimana ia menulis kasus Munir ini. Buku ini ditulis dengan penuh empati dan tidak kesusu. Banyak hal-hal subtil saat Suciwati memperjuangkan kasus suaminya terekam di buku ini. Hasil dari live-in panjang, sumber ribuan dokumen, hingga narasumber jaksa dan polisi.
Easton juga banyak menyisipkan contoh pelanggaran HAM masa lalu sebagai konteks penjelas mengiringi kisah Munir. Buku ini menjadi lebih kaya dan mudah dipahami oleh mereka yang tidak mengikuti, atau bahkan belum lahir saat kasus Munir terjadi. Rasanya, buku ini berhasil melampaui banyak teks-teks lain yang ditulis oleh sejarawan atau investigator yang merekam kasus serupa.
Bagian terpenting buku ini ada pada rentetan persidangan para tersangka yang ditulis dengan cermat: memilah mana yang penting untuk dikisahkan. Kesaksian seorang anggota BIN di persidangan yang berkata, "Munir harus mati sebelum pemilihan presiden, dengan racun atau santet,” tentu tak bisa diabaikan.
Kita jadi semakin memahami ingatan Suciwati atas pemikiran suaminya: Munir percaya bahwa negeri ini lebih perlu persidangan daripada amnesti.
Pada akhirnya, buku ini berhasil mengingatkan pembaca bahwa kasus Munir bisa menjadi “cetak hitam” penyalahgunaan kekuasaan yang menjerumuskan Indonesia modern selamanya ke dalam rasa sakit.
Dengan begitu Easton bisa menemukan kalimat pamungkas untuk menutup buku ini: “Salah satu protagonis dalam buku ini adalah Indonesia itu sendiri."
Benarkah demikian?
Meracunkan Munir, mungkin, adalah salah satu konspirasi pembunuhan paling menyita perhatian sepanjang republik ini berdiri. Terjadi tak lama setelah Orde Baru tumbang, keran informasi terbuka lebar, penggalangan kampanye mudah dilakukan. Bahkan, pada 2006, Suciwati bisa mendapatkan petisi dukungan dari 68 anggota Kongres Amerika Serikat—salah satunya Bernie Sanders—yang mendesak Presiden SBY selesaikan kasus kematian suaminya.
Namun segala konteks sosiologis itu tidak cukup. Soeharto jatuh tapi anasir-anasirnya masih ada dan terus berlipat ganda. Proses hukum kasus Munir sejak awal tak transparan. Berliku dan gelap bak di labirin. Kepala Badan Intelijen Negara (BIN) saat itu, seorang jenderal militer di balik kasus pembantaian di Talangsari 1989, yang diduga menjadi otak pembunuhan lebih kooperatif saat dipanggil polisi ketimbang tim independen buatan presiden.
Berbekal sarjana antropologi dan riset belasan tahun perkara hak asasi di Indonesia, kekuatan utama Easton justru ada pada bagaimana ia menulis kasus Munir ini. Buku ini ditulis dengan penuh empati dan tidak kesusu. Banyak hal-hal subtil saat Suciwati memperjuangkan kasus suaminya terekam di buku ini. Hasil dari live-in panjang, sumber ribuan dokumen, hingga narasumber jaksa dan polisi.
Easton juga banyak menyisipkan contoh pelanggaran HAM masa lalu sebagai konteks penjelas mengiringi kisah Munir. Buku ini menjadi lebih kaya dan mudah dipahami oleh mereka yang tidak mengikuti, atau bahkan belum lahir saat kasus Munir terjadi. Rasanya, buku ini berhasil melampaui banyak teks-teks lain yang ditulis oleh sejarawan atau investigator yang merekam kasus serupa.
Bagian terpenting buku ini ada pada rentetan persidangan para tersangka yang ditulis dengan cermat: memilah mana yang penting untuk dikisahkan. Kesaksian seorang anggota BIN di persidangan yang berkata, "Munir harus mati sebelum pemilihan presiden, dengan racun atau santet,” tentu tak bisa diabaikan.
Kita jadi semakin memahami ingatan Suciwati atas pemikiran suaminya: Munir percaya bahwa negeri ini lebih perlu persidangan daripada amnesti.
Pada akhirnya, buku ini berhasil mengingatkan pembaca bahwa kasus Munir bisa menjadi “cetak hitam” penyalahgunaan kekuasaan yang menjerumuskan Indonesia modern selamanya ke dalam rasa sakit.
Dengan begitu Easton bisa menemukan kalimat pamungkas untuk menutup buku ini: “Salah satu protagonis dalam buku ini adalah Indonesia itu sendiri."
February 19, 2023
There is something so powerful in looking up "kamisan" and seeing the protests continue today and news articles covering them. It's shocking because they still have to continue to demand justice but formidable and inspiring. I am glad I read this book and thus now have the privilege of remembering Munir and the other victims of systematic violence in Indonesia from Marsinah to Wanwan and Wiki Thukul.
I believe it's a must read but found the book stalled a bit in the trial section and wished there was more on other cases and even more context and detail on the political powers at play especially in more recent years. Ultimately this book is about the search for justice for Munir and I understand that adding more might have hindered the flow and subject overall. Moreover being inspired to do research and learn more is not necessarily a bad thing. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars for this reason but ultimately chose the latter.
I believe it's a must read but found the book stalled a bit in the trial section and wished there was more on other cases and even more context and detail on the political powers at play especially in more recent years. Ultimately this book is about the search for justice for Munir and I understand that adding more might have hindered the flow and subject overall. Moreover being inspired to do research and learn more is not necessarily a bad thing. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars for this reason but ultimately chose the latter.
June 3, 2022
This was an interesting investigation into the death of a human rights activist in Indonesia and the quest for justice. I received this book as a goodreads giveaway. The work is very thorough and covers everything from Munir's rise to prominence to his murder and the search for the truth around his death. The book is very detailed, but what emerges is a depiction of a horrid state of affairs in Indonesia.
After reading this book, the reader is left in disbelieft at the environment that is allowed to persist in Indonesia and the seeminy inaction of other the UN and other countries. It would be good to have a background in Indonesian history or politics before reading this book.
After reading this book, the reader is left in disbelieft at the environment that is allowed to persist in Indonesia and the seeminy inaction of other the UN and other countries. It would be good to have a background in Indonesian history or politics before reading this book.
February 8, 2023
Wild to be so distant from this story but also in some ways connected. I was in middle/high school in Jakarta when this was all the rage on Indonesian media but I was not politically conscious enough to have followed the drama in real time. Wawan - the student who was killed during the Semanggi tragedy - rests in the plot next to my grandparents' graves, and every year our family drops by to pay our respects (I think my mother was familiar with Sumarsih or something like that). Great to have an English language resource that details these events. I also thought Easton introduces 1965 and the lead-up to 1998 in the most compelling yet succinct manner I've read on the topic so far.
October 28, 2025
“Apa risiko terbesar dalam hidup ini?”
“Kamu akan mati.”
“Kita makan, tidur dan berbuat apa pun juga bisa mati. Jika kita bisa berbuat sesuatu, dan berguna untuk orang, kenapa tidak kita lakukan?” … “Aku tidak suka itu. Tapi kamu harus melakukannya.”
(hlm. 59)
Buku ini menyajikan kisah kronologis tentang aktivis HAM Munir. Mirip seperti biografi, buku ini menggambarkan perjalanan hidupnya sejak masa kecil, masa kuliah, hingga perkenalannya dengan isu-isu hak asasi manusia. Isu tersebut jugalah yang membuat Munir bekerja dengan getol hingga bertemu Suciwati yang kelak menjadi istrinya.
Ceritanya berlanjut pada tragedi yang merenggut nyawanya secara tiba-tiba dan mengejutkan banyak orang. Buku ini menyoroti perjuangan orang-orang terdekatnya, terutama sang istri, Suciwati, serta sahabatnya, Usman Hamid, dalam menuntut keadilan atas kematian Munir. Proses pencarian bukti, rangkaian persidangan, hingga keterlibatan para saksi, terdakwa, dan tersangka dijelaskan secara rinci di sini.
Satu hal yang saya pelajari dari sosok Munir dalam buku ini adalah bahwa seseorang bisa berubah haluan secara drastis ketika ia bersungguh-sungguh. Pada awal kisah, Munir digambarkan sebagai pendukung rezim kala itu dan kerap “berhadapan” dengan para aktivis jalanan yang menuntut demokrasi serta hak asasi manusia. Buku ini menunjukkan titik balik yang membuatnya berpihak pada nilai-nilai kemanusiaan. Munir menjadi contoh nyata bahwa dengan kemauan untuk belajar dan memahami, seseorang bisa menemukan jalannya menuju kebenaran.
October 1, 2024
On 7 September 2004, Munir was killed on a flight from Jakarta to the Netherlands, where he was supposed to pursue a master's degree in human rights.
After years of investigation and legal proceedings, only one person, Pollycarpus, an off-duty Garuda Indonesia pilot, was sentenced to jail, though no clear motive was ever established. This leaves the lingering question: who ordered Pollycarpus to kill Munir? Who was the real mastermind behind the crime?
Munir’s wife, Suciwati, along with many of his activist friends, continue their fight for justice. For 17 years, they have held weekly Kamisan protests every Thursday.
They believe Munir was killed because of his advocacy work, which shed light on Indonesia's darker political history—cases like Marsinah, Talang Sari, Tanjung Priok, and Semanggi. Some elites feared their secrets would be exposed, and they were threatened by Munir’s work.
Twenty years later, the truth remains obscured. Our government owes us answers. We deserve to know what really happened.
After years of investigation and legal proceedings, only one person, Pollycarpus, an off-duty Garuda Indonesia pilot, was sentenced to jail, though no clear motive was ever established. This leaves the lingering question: who ordered Pollycarpus to kill Munir? Who was the real mastermind behind the crime?
Munir’s wife, Suciwati, along with many of his activist friends, continue their fight for justice. For 17 years, they have held weekly Kamisan protests every Thursday.
They believe Munir was killed because of his advocacy work, which shed light on Indonesia's darker political history—cases like Marsinah, Talang Sari, Tanjung Priok, and Semanggi. Some elites feared their secrets would be exposed, and they were threatened by Munir’s work.
Twenty years later, the truth remains obscured. Our government owes us answers. We deserve to know what really happened.
January 31, 2023
Though I didn't read every page, it was interesting how things are found out in a murder investigation.
In Jakarta, 2004, a human rights activist is killed on a flight. Police don't do much, but his wife and friends do.
Many details here!
In Jakarta, 2004, a human rights activist is killed on a flight. Police don't do much, but his wife and friends do.
Many details here!
June 3, 2022
A great read!
December 12, 2022
Remarkable. It's about Munir, but it's also about EVERYTHING. Well done to the author and also to Suciwati, a hero for the ages.
Read
June 27, 2023crazy and really good
November 6, 2024
I must emphasize that this is, without a doubt, the best book I have read in 2024 (The book was published in 2022, but I didn’t get around to reading it until 2024). The investigation process, quotes, sources, and storyline are exceptionally organized and compelling.
I have profound respect for Matt Easton, Munir's family and colleagues, and everyone involved in the creation of this book, as well as those dedicated to upholding justice.
I have profound respect for Matt Easton, Munir's family and colleagues, and everyone involved in the creation of this book, as well as those dedicated to upholding justice.
November 4, 2022
Με αφορμή τη δολοφονία - μυστήριο ενός ακτιβιστή ξεδιπλώνεται όλη η fucked up νεότερη ιστορία της Ινδονησίας και το ασύλληπτο βάθος της διαφθοράς. Μια καλογραμμένη αληθινή ιστορία ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων από μια χώρα στην οποία απλά δεν υπάρχουν. Must read.
August 29, 2024
MY MIND IS BLOWN.
This book deserves 100/5 stars ⭐️
More review to come.
This book deserves 100/5 stars ⭐️
More review to come.
May 14, 2022
When Munor left to attend graduate school he was to be met by a friend of a friend when he landed in the Netherlands, unfortunately he would never get there. Because the nature of his death and those involved his grieving wipe Susie and another activist would be left to investigate on their own. It would be years before they would get any semblance of justice and that’s only if you consider like most things the people at the head The murder plot got away with it. It wasn’t just his murder that was committed. From the 70s on the head mini missing young men and women who were never heard of again the parents only had a vague idea of what happened to them. This book was so good and I feel like I am doing it in injustice, but just let me say you really should read this book. Matt Easton did a great job with the research in the telling of the story. It’s a sobering time told tale of people just wanting fairness and to live a well lived life up against those who are money hungry egotistical and powerful. What crimes who’s predators really went to the top in the country who had multiple ways of not naming the people who committed crimes against their children it would be years before anyone would even come public with a story much less get justice and Matt Easton covered it all. We Have Tired of Violence is a book I highly recommend. I wish I could’ve given it 10 stars it is so good anyone who thinks America is a horrible country should read this book and really think about there priorities. Minor’s Life or death rather wasn’t in vain, but no one should have to die to get the freedom we should all be born with. I was given this book by Nat Gally and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Please forgive any grammar or punctuation errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
September 28, 2023
Very well written. Great research to give a very good understanding to history accounts—especially for Indonesians who were not there at that time and we’ve been lied to many times on our own history.
April 2, 2025
One of the best books I have ever read.
Easton chronicled the murky and often-political investigation to the killing-by-poison of Munir, an Indonesian human rights activist. Not only did Easton succeed in explaining the ever-complex web of evidence, witnesses, and abuse of power, he did it without losing the personal touch. As investigation faces the curtain of state secrecy, we are presented with the struggle of Suciwati and Usman Hamid to expose the truth on how - and why - arsenic poison ended up in Munir's body. All enveloped in the framework of inherent violence in our Indonesia's political culture.
A page turner and a must-read for every Indonesian.
Easton chronicled the murky and often-political investigation to the killing-by-poison of Munir, an Indonesian human rights activist. Not only did Easton succeed in explaining the ever-complex web of evidence, witnesses, and abuse of power, he did it without losing the personal touch. As investigation faces the curtain of state secrecy, we are presented with the struggle of Suciwati and Usman Hamid to expose the truth on how - and why - arsenic poison ended up in Munir's body. All enveloped in the framework of inherent violence in our Indonesia's political culture.
A page turner and a must-read for every Indonesian.
November 6, 2024
OMG eversince i saw this book, i feel like i NEED to read this. for a background story, my civics teacher back in junior highschool was a big fan of Munir and his journey to defend the human rights. he always told us a wonderful story about Munir and his magical works for indonesian people. this book?? giving me a thorough explanation about Munir's life as an activist and how his fight ended. this book is genuinely giving me a goosebumps to see one of the most vocal and free spirited human activist die by the hands of injustice and evil.
"We Have Tired of Violence: A True Story of Murder, Memory, and The Fight For Justice in Indonesia" is such a wonderful true crime book that's giving us a loy of insights from many perspectives. there are a lot of sources and witnesses telling story about Munir's heroic action to promote human rights in Indonesia around the 1990s. not only that, the book is giving us a very rigid and well-structured timeline. i also like the writings style and how depth the explanation was.
for over three decades, Suharto skillfully co-opted opponents, played rivals against each other, and deployed show trials and violence as needed. he also delivered economic growth as the Father of Development. but inequality and rampant corruption were already spurring in July 1997. by October the monetary contagion had spread to Indonesia. Banks and businesses collapsed, savings evaporated, and unemployment soared. the crash wiped out years of economic progress. and this led to many chaos until 1998 all around Indonesia. many people died and lost in that chaotic and dark era of Indonesia. Munir, is one of Indonesian activist that actively speaking and holding a lot of press conferences to demand justice.
even in reformation era—the vast project of undoing Suharto’s legacy, the word encompassed an agenda that activists had pursued for years at great personal risk— repealing political restrictions, banishing the military from politics, and ending corruption, collusion, and nepotism. after some time around 2003 Munir decided to take a study in Netherlands and went on exile to persue his dream in knowledge at the age of 38.
around 2004, Munir died in an airplane and his death remain mystery for such a long time. this is genuinely scaring me enough that such an act could be implemented in a public airline. an article appeared with the headline INDONESIAN ACTIVIST POISONED, said munir appears to have been poisoned during his flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. after a long investigations, the goverment choses not to make the report catch on the public eyes.
the book give us a huge explanation that there are too much "dalang", a.k.a culprit in this case. those who got punished beind the bars was just only puppets. there is another bigger culprit responsible for the lost of munir's life.
munir’s face haunts the urban landscape, a silent reminder of the ideals of the reformasi movement, of which he is the most visible hero. he appears on city walls as a kind of public conscience, a witness mutely reminding passersby that they move through a space of violence, injustice and forgetting.
"We Have Tired of Violence: A True Story of Murder, Memory, and The Fight For Justice in Indonesia" is such a wonderful true crime book that's giving us a loy of insights from many perspectives. there are a lot of sources and witnesses telling story about Munir's heroic action to promote human rights in Indonesia around the 1990s. not only that, the book is giving us a very rigid and well-structured timeline. i also like the writings style and how depth the explanation was.
for over three decades, Suharto skillfully co-opted opponents, played rivals against each other, and deployed show trials and violence as needed. he also delivered economic growth as the Father of Development. but inequality and rampant corruption were already spurring in July 1997. by October the monetary contagion had spread to Indonesia. Banks and businesses collapsed, savings evaporated, and unemployment soared. the crash wiped out years of economic progress. and this led to many chaos until 1998 all around Indonesia. many people died and lost in that chaotic and dark era of Indonesia. Munir, is one of Indonesian activist that actively speaking and holding a lot of press conferences to demand justice.
even in reformation era—the vast project of undoing Suharto’s legacy, the word encompassed an agenda that activists had pursued for years at great personal risk— repealing political restrictions, banishing the military from politics, and ending corruption, collusion, and nepotism. after some time around 2003 Munir decided to take a study in Netherlands and went on exile to persue his dream in knowledge at the age of 38.
around 2004, Munir died in an airplane and his death remain mystery for such a long time. this is genuinely scaring me enough that such an act could be implemented in a public airline. an article appeared with the headline INDONESIAN ACTIVIST POISONED, said munir appears to have been poisoned during his flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. after a long investigations, the goverment choses not to make the report catch on the public eyes.
the book give us a huge explanation that there are too much "dalang", a.k.a culprit in this case. those who got punished beind the bars was just only puppets. there is another bigger culprit responsible for the lost of munir's life.
munir’s face haunts the urban landscape, a silent reminder of the ideals of the reformasi movement, of which he is the most visible hero. he appears on city walls as a kind of public conscience, a witness mutely reminding passersby that they move through a space of violence, injustice and forgetting.
November 21, 2025
“Munir sudah muak dengan semua istilah kabur ini. Sudah waktunya menyebutkan nama pelaku, sekalipun mereka adalah jenderal atau orang kuat lainnya yang punya segudang cara untuk membungkam atau menghukum para pembunuh.”
Kisah Munir tidak akan pernah selesai sampai negara bergerak untuk mengungkap siapa pembunuh Munir. Munir adalah satu dari sekian ribu nyawa yang direnggut rezim otoriter yang kian rakus akan kekuasaan. Kematian Munir meninggalkan pertanyaan besar bagiku sejak ku kenal namanya semasa menengah pertama.
Meskipun tidak menjawab pertanyaan besar mengenai siapa yang membunuh Munir, setidaknya sudah menjawab mengapa Munir dibunuh. Negara ini alergi orang cerdas, orang yang tidak berpihak padanya, dan lebih-lebih lagi alergi kemajuan. Rakyat cerdas yang meresistensi pemerintah, menolak uang di bawah meja seperti Munir, negara selalu mengambil solusi yang mudah. Kekerasan.
Munir sendiri menyatakan bahwa ia sudah muak dengan kekerasan dan kebohongan negara ini. Siapa sangka akhir hayatnya disambut kekerasan oleh negara yang kemudian berbohong pada publik, menyatakan kematian Munir tidak dapat diusut padahal memang tidak mau mengusut saja.
Secara substansial, banyak karakter baru yang diperkenalkan dalam catatan ini. Mungkin karena sebelum membaca buku ini, literasiku mengenai kematiannya masih pendek. Banyak perspektif yang digabungkan dalam buku ini. Sehingga, sulit bagiku untuk menentukan yang mana yang dapat dipercaya dan mana yang tidak. Satu cerita berkontradiksi dengan cerita lainnya, pengakuan Polycarpus bertabrakan dengan pengakuan istri Munir, rasanya semua orang tengah berbohong dan menenggelamkan kisah sebenarnya.
Diksi yang digunakan dalam buku ini cukup sederhana. Memang sudah seharusnya begitu, mengingat kisahnya sudah cukup membingungkan. Diksi yang ambigu tidak menyelesaikan problematika apapun selain menambah pekerjaan. Banyak bagian dalam buku ini yang terkesan repetitif, mungkin karena banyaknya kebohongan yang dilontarkan pihak-pihak berkepentingan sehingga kata-kata diputar sedemikian rupa untuk melindungi pembunuh bajingan itu.
Jika kamu sedang mencoba menelusuri kisah Munir, buku ini adalah pilihan terbaik. Tidak hanya karena terfokus pada kematian Munir, melainkan turut menjelaskan siapa Munir dan kenapa kematiannya adalah kematian hasil politik.
Kisah Munir tidak akan pernah selesai sampai negara bergerak untuk mengungkap siapa pembunuh Munir. Munir adalah satu dari sekian ribu nyawa yang direnggut rezim otoriter yang kian rakus akan kekuasaan. Kematian Munir meninggalkan pertanyaan besar bagiku sejak ku kenal namanya semasa menengah pertama.
Meskipun tidak menjawab pertanyaan besar mengenai siapa yang membunuh Munir, setidaknya sudah menjawab mengapa Munir dibunuh. Negara ini alergi orang cerdas, orang yang tidak berpihak padanya, dan lebih-lebih lagi alergi kemajuan. Rakyat cerdas yang meresistensi pemerintah, menolak uang di bawah meja seperti Munir, negara selalu mengambil solusi yang mudah. Kekerasan.
Munir sendiri menyatakan bahwa ia sudah muak dengan kekerasan dan kebohongan negara ini. Siapa sangka akhir hayatnya disambut kekerasan oleh negara yang kemudian berbohong pada publik, menyatakan kematian Munir tidak dapat diusut padahal memang tidak mau mengusut saja.
Secara substansial, banyak karakter baru yang diperkenalkan dalam catatan ini. Mungkin karena sebelum membaca buku ini, literasiku mengenai kematiannya masih pendek. Banyak perspektif yang digabungkan dalam buku ini. Sehingga, sulit bagiku untuk menentukan yang mana yang dapat dipercaya dan mana yang tidak. Satu cerita berkontradiksi dengan cerita lainnya, pengakuan Polycarpus bertabrakan dengan pengakuan istri Munir, rasanya semua orang tengah berbohong dan menenggelamkan kisah sebenarnya.
Diksi yang digunakan dalam buku ini cukup sederhana. Memang sudah seharusnya begitu, mengingat kisahnya sudah cukup membingungkan. Diksi yang ambigu tidak menyelesaikan problematika apapun selain menambah pekerjaan. Banyak bagian dalam buku ini yang terkesan repetitif, mungkin karena banyaknya kebohongan yang dilontarkan pihak-pihak berkepentingan sehingga kata-kata diputar sedemikian rupa untuk melindungi pembunuh bajingan itu.
Jika kamu sedang mencoba menelusuri kisah Munir, buku ini adalah pilihan terbaik. Tidak hanya karena terfokus pada kematian Munir, melainkan turut menjelaskan siapa Munir dan kenapa kematiannya adalah kematian hasil politik.
October 3, 2025
this book raged me, every page dragged me into the rotten machinery of impunity in Indonesia. it hurts too much even to compose a neat review, Easton did his job well, very well
fuck you Pollycarpus, fuck you Muchdi, fuck you Hendropriyono, Wiranto, and As’ad. fuck all those BIN personnel who suddenly backtracked in court. fuck those Garuda officials who looked away. fuck those who hide behind the name of family to wash their hands while Bu Suci, Alif, and Diva lost a husband and a father. the victims of state violence lost their ally. activists lost someone they looked up to. may all the glory you’ve been chasing, rot you down in hell, mfs. I will testify in his name. we will testify, in the afterlife
fuck you Yudhoyono and Widodo as well, for all the power you had yet you threw the victim’s family here and there. fuck you Yusril, for everything; for letting the TPF documents vanish, for betraying the very principles you taught. and Prabowo, you don’t count. you’re a bag of scum with daddy issues, forever unforgiven. fuck those activists who betrayed Munir by becoming the regime enablers: Nezar Patria, Budi Sudjatmiko, and the rest. Desmond Mahesa, the audacity of you defending the very people who killed the man who saved your life. there’s a place for people like you in the afterlife, son of bitch
what this book shows me is how impunity actually works. familiar names keep circling at the top of our political system, proving again and again that the system protects its own. there was never a substantial reason for this extrajudicial killing beyond the paranoia of power. they framed Munir as selling Indonesia’s dirt to foreigners while it was THEM holding the guns, THEM pointing it to us. the judicial system also never answered the peasant’s cries for justice. fuck every single of you, truly
this book poses a reminder that as long as the perpetrators of past human rights violations still walk free and even sit on thrones of power, we are bound to repeat bloodbaths. we must kept our memory. memory is the cheapest, easiest, and most powerful weapon—one that cannot be erased if we tend it well. hidup korban!
fuck you Pollycarpus, fuck you Muchdi, fuck you Hendropriyono, Wiranto, and As’ad. fuck all those BIN personnel who suddenly backtracked in court. fuck those Garuda officials who looked away. fuck those who hide behind the name of family to wash their hands while Bu Suci, Alif, and Diva lost a husband and a father. the victims of state violence lost their ally. activists lost someone they looked up to. may all the glory you’ve been chasing, rot you down in hell, mfs. I will testify in his name. we will testify, in the afterlife
fuck you Yudhoyono and Widodo as well, for all the power you had yet you threw the victim’s family here and there. fuck you Yusril, for everything; for letting the TPF documents vanish, for betraying the very principles you taught. and Prabowo, you don’t count. you’re a bag of scum with daddy issues, forever unforgiven. fuck those activists who betrayed Munir by becoming the regime enablers: Nezar Patria, Budi Sudjatmiko, and the rest. Desmond Mahesa, the audacity of you defending the very people who killed the man who saved your life. there’s a place for people like you in the afterlife, son of bitch
what this book shows me is how impunity actually works. familiar names keep circling at the top of our political system, proving again and again that the system protects its own. there was never a substantial reason for this extrajudicial killing beyond the paranoia of power. they framed Munir as selling Indonesia’s dirt to foreigners while it was THEM holding the guns, THEM pointing it to us. the judicial system also never answered the peasant’s cries for justice. fuck every single of you, truly
this book poses a reminder that as long as the perpetrators of past human rights violations still walk free and even sit on thrones of power, we are bound to repeat bloodbaths. we must kept our memory. memory is the cheapest, easiest, and most powerful weapon—one that cannot be erased if we tend it well. hidup korban!
December 16, 2025
Buku ini dibuka dengan cerita sebuah keluarga yang sedang melepas sang ayah di bandara. Rencananya, sang ayah akan melanjutkan studi di Belanda. Sang ayah (Munir) memeluk keluarga kecilnya yang terdiri dari dua anak dan sang istri, Suciwati.
“Aku sudah menemukan surgaku,” kata Munir, pelan.
Bersama dengan para koleganya, tak seorang pun menyangka bahwa itu bakal jadi pertemuan mereka dengan Munir, sekalipun, teror dan ancaman pembunuhan menjadi rutinitas pria kelahiran Malang, 8 Desember ’65 ini; kepergiannya tetap membawa luka yang dalam. Ditambah fakta bahwa wafatnya Munir adalah sesuatu yang janggal, tidak alami, dan terjadi begitu saja. Singkatnya, Munir dibunuh.
Cerdik serta cekatan, Matt Easton membawa pembaca untuk menyelami pembunuhan sistematis yang dirancang aktor-aktor elite negara. Dalam 18 bab, selain prolog dan catatan tambahan, Easton secara sabar dokumen-dokumen penting, mengamati liku jalannya persidangan, melakukan wawancara, mengamati surat kabar, dan kemudian menyulamnya menjadi buku setebal 450 halaman lebih ini dengan bernas.
Dari satu titik ke titik penting lain, Easton mengangkat kehidupan personal Munir dari yang konservatif menjadi seseorang yang punya komitmen penuh akan kemanusiaan. Dari ekstremis, Munir menjadi orang yang sama sekali baru yang mendedikasikan hidupnya untuk orang papa, marjinal, dan ditindas negara; serta giat melakukan advokasi-advokasi untuk mereka.
Tak sampai di situ, Easton membawa kita selaku pembaca untuk menyusuri hidup orang-orang terdekatnya, khususnya Suciwati dan Usman Hamid— yang melewati teror demi teror untuk mencari sesuatu yang (selalu) hilang: keadilan. Lalu cerita berlanjut ke persidangan, di mana kasus Munir bergulir. Berliku serta penuh tipu-tipu.
Buku ini, secara pribadi, menggenapi keresahanku yang penasaran: mengapa pembunuhan Munir dapat terjadi di tahun-tahun awal reformasi, yang kukira selalu digadang sebagai era baru. Jawabannya, kukira, reformasi tidak benar dilakukan—yang tersisa darinya hanya euforia, janji-janji manis. Orde Bau berikut sistemnya hanya ganti kulit, ganti wajah, ganti cara dengan yang "demokratis," yang artinya tidak-demokratis.
“Aku sudah menemukan surgaku,” kata Munir, pelan.
Bersama dengan para koleganya, tak seorang pun menyangka bahwa itu bakal jadi pertemuan mereka dengan Munir, sekalipun, teror dan ancaman pembunuhan menjadi rutinitas pria kelahiran Malang, 8 Desember ’65 ini; kepergiannya tetap membawa luka yang dalam. Ditambah fakta bahwa wafatnya Munir adalah sesuatu yang janggal, tidak alami, dan terjadi begitu saja. Singkatnya, Munir dibunuh.
Cerdik serta cekatan, Matt Easton membawa pembaca untuk menyelami pembunuhan sistematis yang dirancang aktor-aktor elite negara. Dalam 18 bab, selain prolog dan catatan tambahan, Easton secara sabar dokumen-dokumen penting, mengamati liku jalannya persidangan, melakukan wawancara, mengamati surat kabar, dan kemudian menyulamnya menjadi buku setebal 450 halaman lebih ini dengan bernas.
Dari satu titik ke titik penting lain, Easton mengangkat kehidupan personal Munir dari yang konservatif menjadi seseorang yang punya komitmen penuh akan kemanusiaan. Dari ekstremis, Munir menjadi orang yang sama sekali baru yang mendedikasikan hidupnya untuk orang papa, marjinal, dan ditindas negara; serta giat melakukan advokasi-advokasi untuk mereka.
Tak sampai di situ, Easton membawa kita selaku pembaca untuk menyusuri hidup orang-orang terdekatnya, khususnya Suciwati dan Usman Hamid— yang melewati teror demi teror untuk mencari sesuatu yang (selalu) hilang: keadilan. Lalu cerita berlanjut ke persidangan, di mana kasus Munir bergulir. Berliku serta penuh tipu-tipu.
Buku ini, secara pribadi, menggenapi keresahanku yang penasaran: mengapa pembunuhan Munir dapat terjadi di tahun-tahun awal reformasi, yang kukira selalu digadang sebagai era baru. Jawabannya, kukira, reformasi tidak benar dilakukan—yang tersisa darinya hanya euforia, janji-janji manis. Orde Bau berikut sistemnya hanya ganti kulit, ganti wajah, ganti cara dengan yang "demokratis," yang artinya tidak-demokratis.
October 16, 2024
Easton dengan teliti merekonstruksi penyelidikan, menggambarkannya sebagai labirin yang penuh dengan hambatan birokrasi, manuver politik, dan kegagalan hukum. Buku ini merupakan kisah nyata kriminal, menggabungkan ketegangan sistem hukum dengan kompleksitas politik modern Indonesia. Metafora yang berulang tentang "dalang"—sosok yang mengendalikan segalanya dari balik layar—dengan sempurna menggambarkan budaya impunitas yang sepertnya melindungi para pembunuh Munir. Metafora ini, yang berasal dari pewayangan Jawa, sangat tepat dalam mencerminkan struktur kekuasaan di Indonesia, di mana negara dalam bayangan peninggalan Suharto masih beroperasi hampir 25 tahun setelah jatuhnya rezim tersebut.
Narasi ini diperkaya dengan eksplorasi cermat Easton terhadap konteks yang lebih luas: kegagalan Indonesia untuk menyelesaikan pertanggungjawaban atas kekerasan masa lalu. Karier Munir, yang dimulai pada era pasca-Suharto yang penuh gejolak, didedikasikan untuk mengungkap kekejaman yang dilakukan selama masa kekuasaan Suharto. Pembunuhannya pun menjadi simbol dari masalah yang lebih besar—keengganan elit Indonesia untuk menghadapi kekejaman sejarah dan membongkar sistem kekuasaan yang mengakar. Drama pengadilan yang digambarkan Easton, di mana saksi kunci mencabut pernyataan dan terdakwa dikelilingi oleh pendukung yang bersorak, mencerminkan sistem peradilan yang dikompromikan oleh intimidasi dan campur tangan politik.
Easton juga mengaitkan kisah ini dengan novel 'The Leopard', membandingkan transisi politik Indonesia pasca-1998 dengan upaya elit Sisilia untuk mempertahankan kekuasaan selama periode perubahan yang tampaknya terjadi. Perbandingan ini menyoroti salah satu tema sentral buku ini: bahwa revolusi Indonesia melawan Suharto sebagian besar hanya bersifat superfisial, mempertahankan struktur kekuasaan daripada mengubahnya. Kegagalan untuk menegakkan keadilan dalam kasus Munir, menurut Easton, mencerminkan kegagalan yang lebih besar untuk menghadapi masa lalu dan melepaskan diri dari siklus impunitas.
Narasi ini diperkaya dengan eksplorasi cermat Easton terhadap konteks yang lebih luas: kegagalan Indonesia untuk menyelesaikan pertanggungjawaban atas kekerasan masa lalu. Karier Munir, yang dimulai pada era pasca-Suharto yang penuh gejolak, didedikasikan untuk mengungkap kekejaman yang dilakukan selama masa kekuasaan Suharto. Pembunuhannya pun menjadi simbol dari masalah yang lebih besar—keengganan elit Indonesia untuk menghadapi kekejaman sejarah dan membongkar sistem kekuasaan yang mengakar. Drama pengadilan yang digambarkan Easton, di mana saksi kunci mencabut pernyataan dan terdakwa dikelilingi oleh pendukung yang bersorak, mencerminkan sistem peradilan yang dikompromikan oleh intimidasi dan campur tangan politik.
Easton juga mengaitkan kisah ini dengan novel 'The Leopard', membandingkan transisi politik Indonesia pasca-1998 dengan upaya elit Sisilia untuk mempertahankan kekuasaan selama periode perubahan yang tampaknya terjadi. Perbandingan ini menyoroti salah satu tema sentral buku ini: bahwa revolusi Indonesia melawan Suharto sebagian besar hanya bersifat superfisial, mempertahankan struktur kekuasaan daripada mengubahnya. Kegagalan untuk menegakkan keadilan dalam kasus Munir, menurut Easton, mencerminkan kegagalan yang lebih besar untuk menghadapi masa lalu dan melepaskan diri dari siklus impunitas.
October 22, 2024
Inilah buku yang merekam dengan begitu komprehensif sosok Munir Said Thalib, seorang aktivis hak asasi manusia (HAM) yang dibunuh pada 7 September 2004 silam. Pembunuhan dengan racun ini masih terus menyisakan misteri hingga kini, terutama soal siapa aktor intelektual di balik kematian Munir; kendati banyak nama sudah diajukan ke pengadilan dan sebagian menjalani hukuman kurungan. Persis di titik inilah buku ini menguraikan dengan amat lengkap, dari tiap detail peristiwanya, sampai silang-sengkarut dan kelit-kelindan proses penyelesaian dan pengungkapan pembunuhan yang dapat disebut masuk sebagai pelanggaran HAM berat ini.
Easton menyajikan buku ini layaknya sebuah kisah detektif, sederhana, namun dengan teknik penceritaan yang lazim digunakan dalam cerita-cerita roman. Sehingga dengan demikian, bisa dibilang buku ini menjadi suatu pengantar yang baik sekaligus menarik untuk siapa saja yang tertarik mengetahui dengan lebih mendalam ihwal pembunuhan berencana yang tentu saja ditujukan untuk membungkam serta melemahkan proses penegakan hak asasi manusia di Indonesia. Didukung dengan begitu banyak dokumen arsip, berita surat kabar, sampai wawancara dengan orang-orang terdekat Munir, buku ini dapat disebut juga sebagai biografi dari seorang yang kemudian menjadi ikon bagi perjuangan penegakan HAM di Indonesia. Easton merekam banyak sisi humanis dari Munir, Suci, dan orang-orang terdekat maupun kolega sesama pejuang HAM, juga sekaligus menunjukkan dengan gamblang bagaimana kekuasaan politik dan militer yang bersekongkol untuk terus mempertahankan kuasa otoritarian dengan segala cara yang mereka bisa, kendati harus sampai berlumuran darah.
Buku terbaik yang saya baca pada 2024 ini, sekaligus buku yang membuat saya, setelah sekian lama, kembali terisak dan sesak oleh suatu hal yang begitu memilukan, yang direkam dengan baik oleh Matt Easton dalam bukunya ini. Sangat direkomendasikan untuk dibaca oleh orang Indonesia yang masih peduli dengan tegaknya supremasi sipil dan hak asasi manusia di negara ini.
Easton menyajikan buku ini layaknya sebuah kisah detektif, sederhana, namun dengan teknik penceritaan yang lazim digunakan dalam cerita-cerita roman. Sehingga dengan demikian, bisa dibilang buku ini menjadi suatu pengantar yang baik sekaligus menarik untuk siapa saja yang tertarik mengetahui dengan lebih mendalam ihwal pembunuhan berencana yang tentu saja ditujukan untuk membungkam serta melemahkan proses penegakan hak asasi manusia di Indonesia. Didukung dengan begitu banyak dokumen arsip, berita surat kabar, sampai wawancara dengan orang-orang terdekat Munir, buku ini dapat disebut juga sebagai biografi dari seorang yang kemudian menjadi ikon bagi perjuangan penegakan HAM di Indonesia. Easton merekam banyak sisi humanis dari Munir, Suci, dan orang-orang terdekat maupun kolega sesama pejuang HAM, juga sekaligus menunjukkan dengan gamblang bagaimana kekuasaan politik dan militer yang bersekongkol untuk terus mempertahankan kuasa otoritarian dengan segala cara yang mereka bisa, kendati harus sampai berlumuran darah.
Buku terbaik yang saya baca pada 2024 ini, sekaligus buku yang membuat saya, setelah sekian lama, kembali terisak dan sesak oleh suatu hal yang begitu memilukan, yang direkam dengan baik oleh Matt Easton dalam bukunya ini. Sangat direkomendasikan untuk dibaca oleh orang Indonesia yang masih peduli dengan tegaknya supremasi sipil dan hak asasi manusia di negara ini.
September 16, 2024
I picked up this book recommended by a leading journalist on twitter on the 20th anniversary of Munir's murder a week ago.
it's a compelling and well-researched book that tells the life story of one of the most respected human rights activists in Indonesia. It chronicles succinctly and quite thoroughly the work and advocacy Munir has committed his life for, many of which are never told in mass media and history books in the country. After his murder, the book continues to focus on the fight of Munir's wife and friends to bring the perpetrators to justice.
One of the heaviest part of the book personally was learning about the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity that the state had perpetrated throughout its history, many I've only heard in passing when I watched activists protesting over social media. These are events and details that are kept well-hidden from the public consciousness I think mostly by self-censorship in the media. Likely out of an instinctive habit from the authoritarian Orde Baru era.
The book's description of Munir's last hours was also very intense. I couldn't quite stomach it, even though he was murdered by poison, the violence of it was palpable. I still tear up a bit and get goosebumps when I think about it.
Despite the psychologically draining tales about the violence, the murder, and the trials where witnesses were likely intimidated to withdraw their statements from incriminating some of the suspects, I was uplifted by the tenacity of Munir's wife, Suci and Munir's mentee, Usman in their uphill battle to get justice for Munir. I was inspired by some of the fact-finding team members, some of them coming from an institution I no longer have any faith in such as the police force.
It's a 5/5 read but not recommended to read it in the night because you might lose some sleep over some stuff you just read.
it's a compelling and well-researched book that tells the life story of one of the most respected human rights activists in Indonesia. It chronicles succinctly and quite thoroughly the work and advocacy Munir has committed his life for, many of which are never told in mass media and history books in the country. After his murder, the book continues to focus on the fight of Munir's wife and friends to bring the perpetrators to justice.
One of the heaviest part of the book personally was learning about the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity that the state had perpetrated throughout its history, many I've only heard in passing when I watched activists protesting over social media. These are events and details that are kept well-hidden from the public consciousness I think mostly by self-censorship in the media. Likely out of an instinctive habit from the authoritarian Orde Baru era.
The book's description of Munir's last hours was also very intense. I couldn't quite stomach it, even though he was murdered by poison, the violence of it was palpable. I still tear up a bit and get goosebumps when I think about it.
Despite the psychologically draining tales about the violence, the murder, and the trials where witnesses were likely intimidated to withdraw their statements from incriminating some of the suspects, I was uplifted by the tenacity of Munir's wife, Suci and Munir's mentee, Usman in their uphill battle to get justice for Munir. I was inspired by some of the fact-finding team members, some of them coming from an institution I no longer have any faith in such as the police force.
It's a 5/5 read but not recommended to read it in the night because you might lose some sleep over some stuff you just read.
April 5, 2025
Saya sangat menikmati penuturan di sepertiga awal buku ini yang menggambarkan latar belakang kehidupan dan aktivitas Munir serta gambaran peristiwa kematiannya ketika ia berada dalam perjalanan menuju Belanda. Selebihnya setelah itu hampir seluruh narasinya diisi oleh drama ruang sidang. Rasa ketertarikan saya agak berkurang selama membaca bagian ini meskipun tetap merasa penasaran dengan kejutan-kejutan apa lagi yang akan muncul dalam setiap babak baru proses persidangan. Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh ekspektasi saya yang meleset. Alih-alih gambaran detail berlangsungnya sidang-sidang kasus Munir, awalnya saya mengira buku ini akan menjadi semacam analisis sosial-politik mendalam dari peristiwa pembunuhan Munir dan proses hukum yang mengikutinya. Meskipun begitu buku ini tetap penting karena akhirnya saya mendapat gambaran jelas dan pengetahuan yang utuh dari nama-nama dan peristiwa yang dulu sering saya dengar disebut-sebut berulang kali dalam berita televisi selama masa sekolah dan kuliah dengan perasaan tidak terlalu peduli. Satu hal yang agak mengganggu adalah penulisan jabatan 'deputi kepala BIN' yang seharusnya 'wakil kepala BIN'. Penulisan 'deputi kepala' jadi rancu dengan jabatan deputi I, deputi II dan seterusnya yang masing-masing mengurus bidang berbeda. Juga 'panglima Komando Distrik Militer' seharusnya 'komandan Komandan Distrik Militer' (dandim) karena pada komando teritorial penggunaan jabatan panglima hanya ada pada tingkat Kodam. Tapi itu semua hanya kesalahan minor. Di luar itu, buku ini seolah menegaskan kembali tentang hal yang kita semua sebenarnya juga sudah paham, bahwa dalam persoalan kejahatan hak asasi manusia dan impunitas pejabat tinggi, negara kita ini memang tidak pernah ke mana-mana, alias jalan di tempat.
June 26, 2022
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
Before reading this book, I really knew almost nothing about the horrible situation in Indonesia. It starts with Munir, an activist who investigated suspicious kidnappings and murders carried out by Indonesia's government and military, getting on a plane to pursue a degree in the Netherlands, only to mysteriously die sometime during the trip there. The book then goes back to describe the corruption in Indonesia under Suharto's rule and Munir and his wife Suci's roles in uncovering the corruption. The first third or so of the book goes into extensive background about the general situation in Indonesia, and I didn't find this part particularly compelling. There's a lot of names, a lot of regime changes, and they're connected to Munir and the organizations he led, but it felt like it was too dense and academic, as the author tries to cover decades of history. The book got more interesting when it focused more on Munir's murder and how his wife and friends tried to get to the bottom of what really happened. Suspects are named, various narratives are constructed, and the gradual unfolding of what appears to have really happened was well done, I thought. It does get a bit bogged down in a lot of legal proceedings, but the investigation and trials were an interesting true crime read. The book as a whole felt long, even though without the copious endnotes it's under 300 pages. The density of the historical background part and the legal proceedings probably left that impression.
Before reading this book, I really knew almost nothing about the horrible situation in Indonesia. It starts with Munir, an activist who investigated suspicious kidnappings and murders carried out by Indonesia's government and military, getting on a plane to pursue a degree in the Netherlands, only to mysteriously die sometime during the trip there. The book then goes back to describe the corruption in Indonesia under Suharto's rule and Munir and his wife Suci's roles in uncovering the corruption. The first third or so of the book goes into extensive background about the general situation in Indonesia, and I didn't find this part particularly compelling. There's a lot of names, a lot of regime changes, and they're connected to Munir and the organizations he led, but it felt like it was too dense and academic, as the author tries to cover decades of history. The book got more interesting when it focused more on Munir's murder and how his wife and friends tried to get to the bottom of what really happened. Suspects are named, various narratives are constructed, and the gradual unfolding of what appears to have really happened was well done, I thought. It does get a bit bogged down in a lot of legal proceedings, but the investigation and trials were an interesting true crime read. The book as a whole felt long, even though without the copious endnotes it's under 300 pages. The density of the historical background part and the legal proceedings probably left that impression.
May 15, 2025
Dari dulu sampai sekarang, negara gak pernah berpihak ke rakyat. Orang-orang jahat yang katanya mewakili rakyat itu, selalu melindungi sesama mereka dengan segelintir imbalan yang menggiurkan—uang, jabatan, kekuasaan, dan semua bentuk keserakahan. Dari buku ini, pembaca akan lihat dan belajar untuk gak kaget kalau dari dulu rakyat memang selalu cuma punya rakyat. Bukan aparat, bukan juga pemerintah. Meski fokusnya ke kasus Munir, sederet kasus pelanggaran HAM berat juga disinggung di sini. Tragedi Trisakti, peristiwa Semanggi, kekerasan di Timor-Timur, dan sederet kasus pelanggaran HAM berat yang buat negara 'mungkin' terlalu "susah" untuk diselesain. Di halaman depan buku ini, ada nama-nama tokoh yang terlibat dan singkatan dari banyak lembaga yang memudahkan orang awam sepertiku buat mengingat semuanya🫱🏻🫲🏼.
Kalau ada lebih banyak orang yang baca buku ini, akan ada lebih banyak yang sadar dan akan ikut berdiri dengan payung hitam di tangan. Udah waktunya ada lebih banyak orang yang peduli dan inget kalau yang kita punya adalah kita sendiri. Stok optimisnya harus lebih banyak dan lebih banyak lagi. Harapannya akan selalu ada kalau kita buka mata lebar-lebar dan lihat kalau apa yang ada di depan mata—bisa menimpa kita kapan aja.
Kalau ada lebih banyak orang yang baca buku ini, akan ada lebih banyak yang sadar dan akan ikut berdiri dengan payung hitam di tangan. Udah waktunya ada lebih banyak orang yang peduli dan inget kalau yang kita punya adalah kita sendiri. Stok optimisnya harus lebih banyak dan lebih banyak lagi. Harapannya akan selalu ada kalau kita buka mata lebar-lebar dan lihat kalau apa yang ada di depan mata—bisa menimpa kita kapan aja.
December 26, 2024
Kami Sudah Lelah dengan Kekerasan karya Matt Eston adalah buku yang menggugah dan penuh emosi, yang membahas dampak kekerasan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Dengan gaya penulisan yang langsung dan mudah dipahami, Eston mengajak pembaca untuk merenung tentang betapa lelahnya dunia ini dengan segala bentuk kekerasan, baik itu fisik maupun psikologis.
Buku ini bukan hanya sekedar tentang mengkritik kekerasan, tapi juga tentang harapan untuk perubahan dan kedamaian. Eston berhasil menyampaikan pesan penting dengan cara yang ringan namun mendalam, membuat kita lebih sadar akan pentingnya saling menghargai dan menciptakan dunia yang lebih damai.
Kalau kamu suka buku yang menyentuh hati dan bikin berpikir tentang perubahan positif dalam hidup, Kami Sudah Lelah dengan Kekerasan adalah pilihan yang tepat!
Buku ini bukan hanya sekedar tentang mengkritik kekerasan, tapi juga tentang harapan untuk perubahan dan kedamaian. Eston berhasil menyampaikan pesan penting dengan cara yang ringan namun mendalam, membuat kita lebih sadar akan pentingnya saling menghargai dan menciptakan dunia yang lebih damai.
Kalau kamu suka buku yang menyentuh hati dan bikin berpikir tentang perubahan positif dalam hidup, Kami Sudah Lelah dengan Kekerasan adalah pilihan yang tepat!
May 15, 2023
This is one of those books where I just learned a lot. Part history lesson, part courtroom drama, this book centers upon the murder of the activist Munir during a flight to Amsterdam by agents of the state. It is quite scary to see a national airline being used to this purpose, together with many more resources.
Besides presenting the heartbreaking fight for justice of the families and the infuriating reaction or more precisely lack of reaction to the murder, this book also does a good job at presenting a brief history of Indonesia, its conflicts, its issues, but also its people and their hopes and dreams. If interested in the region, worth checking out.
Besides presenting the heartbreaking fight for justice of the families and the infuriating reaction or more precisely lack of reaction to the murder, this book also does a good job at presenting a brief history of Indonesia, its conflicts, its issues, but also its people and their hopes and dreams. If interested in the region, worth checking out.
July 10, 2023
An ambitious work that succeeds on many fronts. It is in part a suspenseful true crime drama, an introduction to broader Indonesian history, a snapshot of the problems during the Post-Suharto reform era in Indonesia, and a chronicling of some of the most infamous cases of politically motivated extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses.
I began this book with very little understanding of Indonesian history. Fortunately, Easton is able to skillfully transform a very complicated and messy web of characters, historical events, and political motivations into a coherent and at times gripping account that jumps across decades and continents.
I began this book with very little understanding of Indonesian history. Fortunately, Easton is able to skillfully transform a very complicated and messy web of characters, historical events, and political motivations into a coherent and at times gripping account that jumps across decades and continents.
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