The Army and the Indonesian Genocide: Mechanics of Mass Murder (Rethinking Southeast Asia)

Book Details

• Author: Jess Melvin

• Brand: Routledge

• Edition: 1

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 322

• Release Date: 14-08-2018

• ISBN: 9781138347977

• Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches

• Languages: English

About The Book

For over fifty years, the Indonesian military has portrayed the 1965-66 mass killings — which led to the murder of approximately one million unarmed civilians — as the result of a spontaneous uprising. This narrative not only absolved the military of any responsibility but also denied that the killings were part of a centralized, nationwide campaign. In this groundbreaking work, Jess Melvin challenges the official propaganda and proves that the military was, in fact, deeply involved in the atrocities.

Drawing on over 3,000 pages of top-secret documents from the former Indonesian Intelligence Agency’s archives in Banda Aceh, Melvin reconstructs a detailed, harrowing narrative of the genocide using the military’s own accounts. Through the lens of survivor testimonies, perpetrator accounts, and eyewitness stories, she unveils the truth behind one of the darkest chapters of Indonesia’s history. Her research leads to a powerful conclusion: the 1965-66 killings qualify as genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

This first-of-its-kind book will be essential for students and scholars in Southeast Asian Studies, History, Politics, the Cold War, Political Violence, and Comparative Genocide. It is a game-changer for anyone seeking to understand the Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and their enduring political and historical implications.

With endorsements from experts like Joshua Oppenheimer, Robert Cribb, and John Roosa, this book not only sheds light on the historical facts but also breaks new ground in the study of genocide and political violence.