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'Twenties': 20 Indonesian heroes you should know but probably haven't heard of
‘Twenties’ is a new column in which we give our top 20 list of anything and everything of interest, from food and history to pop culture and lifestyle — and more.
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Inspiration: Mambesak performs in 1981. Arnold Ap (center) was the band’s leader and inspiration. (Personal collection/Courtesy of Ayos Purwoaji) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Ayos Purwoaji)
‘Twenties' is a new column in which we give our top 20 list of anything and everything of interest, from food and history to pop culture and lifestyle — and more.
Indonesia’s long and complex history has left plenty of room for heroes. These are men and women who stood up for what’s right in times of strife and fought for their convictions — even if they had to pay with their lives. Perhaps because of this, some of their names might not appear in our history books and their bodies were not laid to rest at the Hero's Cemetery in Kalibata, Jakarta.
But without them, the story of Indonesia would be very different — and likely more grim — from what we know today.
1. Mama Yosepha Alomang
A midwife by trade, Mama Yosepha spent decades organizing protests against industrial-scale mining in West Papua, decrying the environmental damage and chronic inequality it brought. She formed cooperatives to help native tribes, held non-violent rallies and worked to free other Papuan campaigners imprisoned for their convictions.
A true powerhouse.
2. YB Mangunwijaya
