‘Paling Top ‘75’ by FX Harsono: Remembering the Indonesian Invasion of East Timor as they Elect Former General as President
Chinese-Indonesian artist FX Harsono's work has long been about speaking up against political violence in the country. In 1976, he created Paling Top ‘75 (The Best of ‘75), a piece which criticizes Indonesia’s move to invade East Timor in 1975. Now, on 20th October 2024, Prabowo Subianto, the former military general who oversought the invasion of East Timor, was sworn in as Indonesia's eighth President. Subianto has been accused of multiple atrocities. The work that he carried out with other military generals at the time caused nearly 20,000 violent deaths and disappearances—all on East Timor’s small population of 900,000. With this context in mind, Harsono’s piece takes on a new role in 2024.
As survivors of the military siege still struggle to get back on their feet, the anti-war piece has expanded in meaning; it is both a protest piece and a warning. It becomes a reminder of Indonesia’s current President’s past, which the country's electorate has seemingly long forgotten when they voted him president in a landslide election. This is why Paling Top ‘75 by FX Harsono is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Reduced Inequalities and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
FX Harsono’s piece is a military rifle in its wooden crate tipped vertically to resemble a framed piece of memorabilia. Emblazoned behind the gun are the words ‘Paling Top 75’ (The Best of ‘75) in big black letters that commands the viewer's attention. Since the piece was made in 1976, Indonesia has done little to provide East Timor with reparations. In fact, the national historical narrative has glorified the invasion as a success story of its then president, Soeharto, a dictator who reigned for 32 years and is also Subianto’s father-in-law.
When President Soeharto was ousted from office and replaced by President Habibie, East Timor regained its independence with the 1999 referendum. Even so, recently recovered documents have shown that paramilitary groups armed and financed by the Indonesian military discouraged the citizens of East Timor from voting for their independence.
Today, the people of East Timor have shown mixed reactions to the news of Subianto’s ascent. Their prime minister, Xanana Gusmão, who himself spent years interned in an Indonesian prison, has expressed his support of Subianto. “President-elect Prabowo will contribute a lot, first to Indonesia, continuing stability and prosperity in Indonesia, and then in the region, as well as strengthen relations with Timor-Leste,” he stated in a quote to Benar News. Meanwhile, local activists continue to press for answers regarding his past atrocities.
FX Harsono’s Paling Top '75 remains a reminder of Indonesia's violent invasion of East Timor in 1975, a work of art that has now taken on renewed significance with the election of Prabowo Subianto, a former military general—who helped oversee atrocities in East Timor—as Indonesia’s president in 2024. In this context, Paling Top '75 has transitioned from being a protest artwork to a cautionary tale, reflecting the dangers of ignoring an excruciating past.
As Indonesia moves forward with Subianto’s leadership in good faith, Paling Top '75 becomes a call to confront historical violence and uphold justice for the victims of the East Timor invasion. Hence, Harsono’s work continues to resonate, urging accountability and remembrance for nations still grappling with their troubled history.
Find out more about Paling Top ‘75 and other pieces by FX Harsono on his website www.fxharsono.art or Instagram @ini_fx_harsono.