Scattered Roots

A Kartosoewirjo family reunion in Central Java was an emotional affair, with family members meeting for the very first time.

August 18, 2010

EARLY last year, Bambang Soerjadi, 74, was surprised at the arrival of three guests he did not know. They spoke with Sundanese accents. After he invited them to sit in the old chairs of his sitting room, one of the guests—a thin man sporting a mustache—introduced himself as Herman. He was the son-in-law of Dianti, one of the children of Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo. “After that, I was very happy,” said Soerjadi. “It was like we had

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