Widji Thukul
Encyclopedia
Widji Thukul is an Indonesia
n poet born in 1963. His work is political, often critical of the Indonesian government and the social conditions of the country. He has been missing
since 1998.
As well as being a poet, Thukul was also a musician and also accompanied a theatre group, Theater Jagat, around Solo.
In 1988, Thukul married Dyah Sujirah. They had two children. Together they founded an arts group called Sanggar Suka Banjir (Frequent Flooding Studio).
Thukul helped organise workers demonstrations and was a member of Partai Rakyat Demokrasi (People's Democratic Party). In a worker demonstration in 1995, Thukul was struck in the eye by a rifle butt, causing permanent damage to his sight.
His last contact with his wife was in February 1998. In April of that year he was seen in a demonstration in Tangerang
but has not been seen since. It is suspected that he was one of many anti-government protesters abducted by government forces during the anti-Suharto demonstrations.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n poet born in 1963. His work is political, often critical of the Indonesian government and the social conditions of the country. He has been missing
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
since 1998.
Life
Born on August 23, 1963, Thukul attended junior high school but left middle school in 1982 due to his family's financial constraints. Early jobs included newspaper-seller, ticket-scalper, and finisher in a furniture shop.As well as being a poet, Thukul was also a musician and also accompanied a theatre group, Theater Jagat, around Solo.
In 1988, Thukul married Dyah Sujirah. They had two children. Together they founded an arts group called Sanggar Suka Banjir (Frequent Flooding Studio).
Thukul helped organise workers demonstrations and was a member of Partai Rakyat Demokrasi (People's Democratic Party). In a worker demonstration in 1995, Thukul was struck in the eye by a rifle butt, causing permanent damage to his sight.
His last contact with his wife was in February 1998. In April of that year he was seen in a demonstration in Tangerang
Tangerang
Tangerang is a city in the Province of Banten, Indonesia. It is located about 25 km west of Jakarta. It is the third largest urban center in the Jabotabek region after Jakarta and Bekasi. It has an area of 164.54 km² and an official intercensal estimated population of 1,537,244 for 2005...
but has not been seen since. It is suspected that he was one of many anti-government protesters abducted by government forces during the anti-Suharto demonstrations.
Publications
- Pusi Pelo (Lisping Poetry), published by Taman Budaya Surakata, Solo, 1984.
- Darman dan Lain-lain (Darman and the Others), published by Taman Budaya Surakata, Solo, 1994.
- Mencari Tanah Lapang (Looking for an Open Plot of Land), published by Manus Amici, 1994.
- Aku Ingin Jadi Peluru (I Want to be a Bullet), published by IndonesiaTera, Magelang, 2000.