Tan Malaka, Persatuan Perjuangan dan Historiografi Indonesia Kontemporer

Tan Malaka was one of the important figures in Indonesia's struggle for independence against the Dutch colonialism. His name began to rise in 1921 after being elected as the chairman of the lndonesian Communist Party (PKI) in its congres in Semarang. I the Indonesian historiography he is a controversial figure. He was killed during the revolution and was declared as as a national hero under the Sukarno rule. During the New Order era, his name has been omitted from history books because the government was anti-cornmunist and regarded him and other communits leaders and supporters as enemies that should be destroyed and be removed from historiography. Harry A. Poeze is a foreign scholar who has made a serious effort to revive Tan Malaka's role in Indonesian history and his publications are now available for wider readership in the country