In this article My Neighbour, The Dictator Tari Lang
By Rebecca L. Root, originally published in Nikkei Asia
Jul 18, 2026
Read the full article here. / Subscription may be required.
By Rebecca L. Root, originally published in Nikkei Asia
Jul 18, 2026
Many Indonesians still approach free speech with caution, as broadly worded laws can be used to stifle criticism of the government. The legacy of what is widely regarded as a three-decade dictatorship has left many Indonesians wary of speaking out. One writer's new novel pushes back against that legacy.
"My Neighbour, The Dictator: Coming of age in the shadow of Indonesia's 1965 military coup" is a political memoir by Javanese-British businesswoman Tari Lang. It offers an eyewitness account of the early days of Suharto's violent rise to power in 1965, when he seized control after claiming to be protecting then-President Sukarno following an alleged communist coup attempt, before launching a purge of suspected communists.
"My Neighbour, The Dictator: Coming of age in the shadow of Indonesia's 1965 military coup" is a political memoir by Javanese-British businesswoman Tari Lang. It offers an eyewitness account of the early days of Suharto's violent rise to power in 1965, when he seized control after claiming to be protecting then-President Sukarno following an alleged communist coup attempt, before launching a purge of suspected communists.
Read the full article here. / Subscription may be required.
