To Buru Island: A Journey to the Dark Side of Indonesia’s Past

Mars Noersmono has a story he’s determined to tell. It’s deeply disturbing — a tale of horror and courage, despair and resilience. Although primarily about Indonesia’s bloody and brutal past, it’s also a sober warning against authoritarian governments everywhere that ignore the rule of law and create civilian panic against mythical monsters to justify violence and maintain power. The illegality and human suffering is strong enough, but this is also a first-person account of a nation’s shame.