Eliza Vitri Handayani reads “The Fugitive” by Wiji Thukul

In Indonesia Wiji Thukul is known as the people’s poet. With humble words but extraordinary courage, his poems recount the everyday struggle of the poor and downtrodden. The power of his words, which he often read at workers’ and farmers’ rallies, attracted the authorities’ attention, and he became a wanted man. His family and friends last heard from him in February 1998. Many suspect he was disappeared by the New Order regime. Thukul is now an icon for people power in Indonesia. As part of our #Unrepressed series, InterSastra is publishing several of Wiji Thukul’s poems.

“Unrepressed” is a series of short literary works we are publishing to promote and encourage writing about themes around which there is still much silencing.

“The Fugitive” is translated from a poem titled “Buron”. Here the English translation is read by InterSastra’s director, noted novelist Eliza Vitri Handayani.