Breaking the Silence, Constructing a Theology of Memory: Survivors of DI/TII 1951–1965 in Rongkong, Indonesia

The DI/TII gangs committed violence in South Sulawesi from 1951 to 1965. They conquered the Rongkong region and then tortured and killed Christians. The result of these actions was a wave of displacement to Sabbang and Baebunta in North Luwu Regency. This event has long since ended, and the survivors have gone through a period of great suffering. They still have memories of the DI/TII incident. The memories of that suffering are recounted within their respective circles but are frequently withheld in interactions with others. Silence is deemed the appropriate option. This study focuses on examining the silence of Christians and then presents a constructive theology of memory. Often, silence symbolically denotes acquiescence to injustice and the repressive activities that have transpired. We conducted interviews with survivors from the first to the third generation to gather field data. The findings indicated: (a) silence as an act of restraint, (b) silence serves as a proactive measure to avert or mitigate tension. (c) silence as a contemplative framework of Christian faith (d) fragmented silence as a means of identity reconstruction and receptivity. Within the framework of constructive theology, silence is not a movement against sound, but a moment of pause and reflection memories. It is sometimes necessary to break the silence to overcome suspicion, fear, and encourage openness to forgiveness and reconciliation.