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๐ŸŽฌ Documentary ยท CNA Insider

Indonesia's Exiles:
Too Late To Return Home?

A powerful documentary exploring the untold stories of Indonesian exiles โ€” their struggles with identity, displacement, and the long-awaited search for justice and belonging across generations.

A Story Decades in the Making

In January 2023, Indonesian President Jokowi made a stunning admission โ€” he apologised for the country's human rights atrocities committed during the anti-communist purges of 1965โ€“66, when an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were killed, and many more were imprisoned or forced into exile.

This documentary follows the stories of those who were forced to leave Indonesia โ€” students, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens who found themselves on the wrong side of history. Decades later, many are still waiting for the right to return home.

Through intimate interviews and archival footage, the film examines the lasting impact of political violence on individuals, families, and the Indonesian diaspora. It raises urgent questions about justice, reconciliation, and the meaning of home.

"We left as students. We came back old people โ€” or we didn't come back at all."
โ€” Indonesian Exile, featured in the documentary

Why This Matters

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Human Rights

Examination of one of the 20th century's least-discussed mass atrocities and the ongoing fight for acknowledgment and justice.

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Identity & Belonging

The complex reality of living between cultures โ€” neither fully accepted abroad nor welcomed back home after decades of exile.

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Reconciliation

Indonesia's path toward truth and reconciliation โ€” what Jokowi's apology means and the long road still ahead.

Explore Further

Watch the full documentary on YouTube or return to see all of Eugene Mierak's projects and initiatives.