A Ghost in the G30S Machine

He appeared suddenly, with no discernible origin. Not many recognize the name Sjam Kamaruzaman. He made his first public appearance two years after the bloody events of the September 30 Movement (G30S). At that time, in July 1967, he was a witness in the trial of Sudisman, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Previously he was more of a myth. His existence was only half-believed. The Special Bureau, the secret PKI body which he led, was initially thought to be just military propaganda to make it easier for Suharto to get rid of the PKI.

However, Sjam corroborated all charges. He said that he led the Special Bureau and made the secret plans for the G30S. He said that he intended to kidnap former Vice President Mohammad Hatta and 3rd Deputy Prime Minister Chairul Saleh, in addition to seven generals, on that bloody morning.

As someone who was tasked with influencing members of the Indonesian Military to support the PKI, he had access to military institutions. In prison, while other political detainees shuddered in fear before each questioning, Sjam would face it with a smile.

His relationship with the military was indeed like that of an “old friend.” His son recalls how, in prison, Sjam stayed in a large cell and was allowed to have a bag full of money to pay for his needs.

He was like an agent in a Hollywood movie. His children only knew their father as a businessman. He owned a roof tile factory and repair shop, and sold limestone. His wife, a worker activist at Tanjung Priok Port and administrator of the Indonesian Farmers Front, an organization under the PKI, was asked to stop working in order to protect his cover.

Who was Sjam, a man with five aliases? Who was this native of Tuban, East Java, who was an atheist yet known to be good at reciting verses from the Qur’an? Was he a double agent or just a loyal follower of PKI Chairman D.N. Aidit?

The G30S tragedy is a mystery whose secrets have never been fully uncovered. Sjam Kamaruzaman is an important figure in the chaos which is thought to have taken the lives of at least 2 million people.