Indonesia vows to resolve ‘dark history’ around 1965-66 anti-communist massacre but rules out formal apology

Indonesia pledged on Monday to resolve its “dark history” around one of the worst mass killings of the 20th century, but ruled out a formal apology as victims and officials came together for an unprecedented discussion into the atrocity.

At least 500,000 people died in the killings across the archipelago in 1965-66 but discussing the brutal purge remains taboo in Indonesia. School books omit details of the violence while attempts to challenge the official narrative – that the killings were necessary to rid the country of communism – have been shut down in the past.

Organisers say the two-day symposium in Jakarta, opened by senior ministers, marks the first time the government has backed such a public investigation into the controversial killings.

The rare endorsement for this symposium was welcomed by human rights activists who for years have been pushing for the truth around this bloody chapter to be exposed through dialogue, a formal investigation and an official apology.

But speaking at the event, Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan – one of President Joko Widodo’s most trusted advisers – ruled out an apology, saying the government would not bow to external pressure.

“We want to resolve this dark history of our past,” he told the hundreds gathered in Jakarta, including victims and their relatives bussed in from across the country.