A critical reflection of Timor Leste’s separation from Indonesia in Sefriyana Khairil’s Novel Tanah Air Beta: A new historicism approach

Timor Leste's separation from Indonesia led to a problematic situation, leaving a deep psychological dilemma for the two countries, with historically strong relationships. This research aims to provide a critical reflection on the political and psychological problems in the aftermath of Timor-Leste's separation from Indonesia, as a sister region. Engaging the new historicism approach, this research delved into data obtained from the novel Tanah Air Beta by Sefriyana Khairil, published by Gradien Mediatama in 2010. The data were explored, described, and interpreted with the assumption that the data in the novel were in parallel with historical data external to the novel. These data were pertinent to pictures that reflected the separation, presented along with information on accompanying historical events to ensure depth of interpretation. The research results showed that the separation stemmed from New Order political repression, coupled with political issues. The separation resulted in mental outcomes associated with anxiety, unpreparedness, fear, and refusal of emerging political events. These psychological problems sparked the evolving sense of national solidarity between citizens. It was the same feeling as a citizen who underwent adversity as a result of a political act in choosing one of the two countries. The research underlined the importance of apt coping strategies to address potential separation to preempt similar political and psychological issues. These strategies are essential to mitigate the profound and enduring impact on a region whose inhabitants share close fraternal bonds.