Oei Tjoe Tat: From Sukarno loyalist to political prisoner

Oei Tjoe Tat, a former State Minister and loyalist to President Sukarno, played a significant role in Indonesian political history, particularly during the 'Crush Malaysia' campaign and his subsequent imprisonment under the New Order regime.

During the 1963 'Crush Malaysia' operation, Army Commander Gen. Ahmad Yani enlisted Oei to mobilize ethnic Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Oei was tasked with using his influence to persuade these communities to oppose the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, which Sukarno viewed as a British puppet state. His efforts focused on reaching leaders around the Riau Islands and Kalimantan.

Later, Oei spent 11 years imprisoned under the New Order regime. During his detention at the Budi Utomo Military Detention Center and the Nirbaya Rehabilitation Facility, he relied on food sent by his wife, Kwee Loan Nio, which was often inspected and disrupted by prison guards. His dining group included several prominent military and political figures, including leaders of the Indonesian Communist Party.