Anwar Congo (1937-2019) was an Indonesian actor, filmmaker, and activist who was best known for his involvement in the 1965 Indonesian genocide. Born in the city of Medan, North Sumatra, Anwar grew up in a conservative Islamic family. He was a member of the paramilitary organization Pemuda Pancasila and was active in the Indonesian National Revolution. After the revolution, he became a film enthusiast, eventually working in the film industry as an actor and director.
In the early 1960s, Anwar was deeply involved in the anti-Communist purge that occurred in Indonesia. He was a part of the Pancasila Youth, a paramilitary organization that was responsible for the deaths of thousands of suspected Communists. Anwar was known to have personally participated in the torture and execution of many of these people.
After the purge, Anwar began a career in filmmaking. He directed a number of films, most notably the acclaimed “The Act of Killing” (2012), which focused on his role in the genocide. The film was met with widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
In recent years, Anwar had become an advocate for the victims of the 1965 genocide. He had publicly expressed remorse for his actions and had become a vocal critic of the current Indonesian government’s failure to properly address the legacy of the genocide.
Anwar Congo passed away in 2019 at the age of 81. He had become an iconic figure in Indonesia and was widely respected for his courage in speaking out against the crimes of the past. He will be remembered as a filmmaker and activist who dedicated his life to seeking justice for the victims of the 1965 Indonesian genocide.
