The tragedy of 1965 saw hundreds of thousands, possibly up to two million, members and accused members of the Communist Party Indonesia (PKI) along with affiliated organizations and sympathizers brutally persecuted and murdered. It stands as one of the bloodiest episodes in modern Indonesian history, yet remains among the least acknowledged and most contested within Indonesian society today.

In this event, we will engage with four key themes. First, we will revisit the historical dimension of 1965, namely, what unfolded, and the conditions that made such violence possible. Second, we will consider how the generation shaped by the New Order (1966–1998) reflected upon 1965, and how their memory was produced through state narratives, censorship, and cultural institutions.

Third, we will examine how the post-1998 Reformasi generation reflects upon 1965 in turn; grappling with inherited silences, challenging official accounts, and attempting to reconstruct alternative understandings. Finally, we will reflect on the stakes of remembering 1965 today; how its fragile, contested, and often taboo status continues to shape Indonesia’s collective memory, political culture, and possibilities for imagining alternative futures.

Join us to share your stories and reflections in this intergenerational space.
📅 Date & Time: Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 6PM AEST
📍 Location: Online via Zoom

Speakers

Dr Greg Poulgrain was born in Brisbane and educated there at the University of Queensland (UQ) and James Cook University Nth Qld. His doctoral thesis re-examined the period known as ‘Malaysian Confrontation’ when relations between Indonesia & Malaysia were at a low ebb in early '60s. In the mid-1990s, he began lecturing in the History and Politics of Southeast Asia focusing on Indonesia. He left University of Queensland in early 2000s to do consultancy; resumed lecturing at University Sunshine Coast in 2008 (where postcovid, he is now an adjunct). He is also now adjunct professor of history in the University Malang.

Greg's published books:
1.     JFK vs Allen Dulles: Battleground Indonesia, 2020. Foreword by Oliver Stone.
2.     The Incubus of Intervention, 2015. Foreword by Baskara Wardaya. Indonesian translation: Bayang Bayang Intervensi, 2017, Foreword by Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, Indonesian ambassador to Tunisia.
3.     The Genesis of Konfrontasi, 2014. Foreword by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. This book is to be republished by Kompas next month in Bahasa Indonesia, along with a 30,000 word English-language booklet: Blood and Silence: the hidden tragedy of 1965.

Ulya Pipin Jamson is a Lecturer in the Department of Politics and Government, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. She is currently doing her PhD in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies, School of Social and Political Science, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne. Her research is about women’s collective action. Pipin is part of Melbourne Bergerak and Aksi Kamisan Melbourne.

Ethan Joes completed his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Macquarie University, where he developed a strong foundation in critical thinking, political theory, and cultural analysis. His academic background informs his interest in exploring the intersections of thought, society, and contemporary struggles. Ethan is part of Aliansi Gusar.