TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Soe Hok Gie, a student activist in the Soekarno and Suharto eras. 52 years ago, on December 16, 1969, Gie died in the peak area Semeru Mountain (3,676 masl), East Java. Mount Semeru is included in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area or TNBTS.
Some sources say, Soe Hok Gie died in the highest volcano in East Java province from inhaling toxic gases, just hours before he turned 27 years old.
Soe Hok Gie’s thoughts were contained in his writings which were widely distributed in the print media at the time. His thoughts influenced the attitudes of Indonesian students and critical groups. Soe Hok Gie viewed that the Old Order government under President Soekarno did not care about the suffering of the people.
Soe Hok Gie’s critical attitude grew stronger when he entered the New Order led by President Suharto. Soe Hok Gie continues to pour his ideas into books, diaries, and poetry. All of that becomes a critical energy burner for students.
Soe Hok Gie talked about injustice, hypocrisy, his love for the country, and protested against the destruction of natural resources and the environment in Indonesia. Soe Hok Gie protested without any tendency to seek personal gain for his bold point of view.
Soe Hok Gie’s ideas inspired the birth of many young intellectuals today. Soe Hok Gie is remembered not only for his political activities, but also for his humanitarian ideals, as well as his love for Indonesia without the shackles of his racial identity.
Soe Hok Gie, as recorded in the book Soe Hok Gie: The Age of Transition (2005: 293), died in anxiety. He faces the fact that his fellow student activists, fellow leaders of the class of 66, like to pursue worldly things rather than uniting their minds after the change.
In fact, before leaving to climb Mount Semeru, Soe Hok Gie had time to send cosmetics, sarongs, and kebayas to a number of representatives. student in the DPR-RG as a form of satire.
M. RIZQI AKBA
Read: Mount Semeru Eruption, Bridge in Lumajang which was Built in 1997 Collapses
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