Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has described the murder of Marsinah as involving collusion between the state apparatus and capitalists. He voiced his opinion during the inauguration of the Ibu Marsinah Museum and Shelter in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, nearly 33 years after the activist's death.
In Marsinah's hometown, Prabowo recalled the events surrounding her murder in 1993. "At that time, I was still young, I heard about the incident in East Java, but I did not delve into it," said the Gerindra Party chair in a speech broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.
Prabowo was 41 years old when the kidnapping and murder of Marsinah took place. That year, he served in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (ABRI) as the commander of Group 3/Sandhi Yudha Special Forces Command (Kopassus).
Now, decades after Marsinah's death, Prabowo stated that he understands what happened. "Finally, today I only realize, I just understand. Collusion, certain capitalists used the apparatus," he said.
The former defense minister mentioned that the collusion between capitalists and the government is ingrained in Indonesia. He expressed his desire to put an end to this practice.
According to Prabowo, every state apparatus should live and die for the people. "All apparatus, from the highest to the lowest, should die for the people, not oppress the people," he said.
Prabowo instructed the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, and the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, to ensure that no more apparatus would cover up any misconduct. Both were present at the inauguration of the Marsinah Museum in Nganjuk.
"The Commander of TNI, Police Chief, I do not want to hear anymore that the apparatus does not uphold justice and truth, they should not cover up various things," said Prabowo, who is also a retired army general.
Marsinah was a labor activist who was murdered for fighting for the rights of workers at the PT CPS Sidoarjo, East Java, where she worked.
She was born on April 10, 1969 in Nganjuk, East Java, and worked as a laborer at PT Catur Surya Putra (CPS), a watch factory in Sidoarjo. Marsinah actively led actions demanding wage increases and improved working conditions.
On May 9, 1993, the 24-year-old Marsinah was found dead in a forest in Dusun Jegong, Wilangan District, Nganjuk, East Java. The murder of Marsinah remains a serious violation of human rights (HAM) that has not been resolved to this day.
Marsinah was allegedly tortured and kidnapped due to her unwavering leadership in demonstrations for a wage increase at the factory where she worked.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article