Indonesian Ufology Timeline – Part 2 (1971 – 1979)

This is the second part of the Indonesian ufology timeline articles that I have started back in May. As can be seen many details are added to expand the original timeline featured in the BETA UFO 2007 book, including the expansion of the article length into a three-part series. Time has been and will always be the major constraint in doing these articles yet hopefully there is enough interest to be triggered by it to bring about better documentation in the future.

January 1970
A popular science magazine in Jakarta, Intisari, published an article written by S. Kamah about a series of strange phenomena that had been taking place around lake Poso, Sulawesi island since 1965. The article dealt with a series of possible USO/UFO phenomena observed by multiple witnesses encompassing both local villagers as well as government officials. The phenomena involved sightings of unidentified glowing objects seen both underwater and on air around the lake.

Note: This entry, not included in the original timeline presented in BETA UFO’s book, was added for the subjective assessment that it highlighted a significant ‘international’ attention/recognition for the country’s UFO phenomena. The case was published in the Flying saucers Review case Histories (Vol. 1-18) in April 1971. First reference to it was found in the voluminous archives of waterufo.net

1971-1972
Senior politician/diplomat, Adam Malik was elected president of the UN General Assembly. During his term Malik was supposedly assisted by a ufologist named Farida Iskiovet in the investigations of the Mojave desert UFO sightings. A certain ‘obscured’ document found in the archives of bibliotecapleyades.net stated that the two had actually supported the setting up of a diplomatic relation with the extraterrestrials contacted by Iskiovet in Mojave desert.
Note: The authenticity of the document is still a mystery. Most of the searches I have done on the net for UN related UFO deliberations usually focus more on the November 27 1978 UN special hearing of the UFO phenomena, during its 33rd General Assembly. On the other hand, nothing else has so far been found about Malik and Iskiovet’s alleged involvement with the Mojave desert sightings or EBEs.

1974
Suara Karya newspaper published a series of articles deliberating the works of Erich von Daniken on ancient extraterrestrials/astronauts. This might well marked the first newspaper coverage on topics related to the UFO phenomena.

December 1976
Renown American ufologist, Prof. J. Allen Hynek visited Indonesia in response to an invitation extended by Foreign Minister Adam Malik. On December 16 the national television network (TVRI) reported a speech given by Hynek to the country’s Armed Forces top brass. On December 20 TVRI aired a special talk show discussing the UFO phenomena in Indonesia. The show featured Hynek accompanied by the country’s pioneering ufologist J. Salatun and engineer Tony Hartono Rusman -- the person who had sighted and photographed an unknown aerial object in the Cilamaya coastal region, West Java back in September 1975.
The show seemed to be quite successful in stirring up public interest and attention to the subject of ufology as later described by Salatun in his letter to Hynek a year after the televised show. During the show Salatun also supposedly encourage viewers to report any UFO related phenomena to the National Space and Aviation Agency (LAPAN) that he was heading.
Note: It is not known whether TVRI’s archive still carries the documentation for this talkshow. Such footage would definitely be an invaluable documentation to preserve regarding the development of ufology in the country.

February 1977
J. Salatun wrote a lengthy letter to Prof. Hynek, elaborating on the then current development of UFO sightings in the country. The letter, titled J. Salatun communiqué # 1, is available as a pdf file from The Sign Historical Group. Among others, the letter disclosed some intriguing cases such as the sighting and close encounter case in Alor and Pantar islands, East Nusa Tenggara, in 1959 and the discovery of physical traces from a reported UFO landing site in Mount Lawu, Central Java, in 1971.

1978
Mekatronika, a popular science magazine based in Bandung city, West Java, published a special edition (#5, 1978) dedicated to the UFO phenomena. This particular event mark the beginning of a much more intense local media attention to the subject of ufology.

December 18, 1978
Indonesian engineer Ahmad Padang, working as one of the UN’s Space Application expert, attended the 33rd General Assembly that discussed the subject of global UFO sightings and measures to coordinate efforts to monitor it.

1979
Popular Jakarta-based youth magazine, Hai published a special issue on ufology while Mekatronika magazine published a special issue on exobiology. In the same year, Desmond Leslie and George Adamski classical book “The Flying saucers Have Landed” was translated into Indonesian by Bandung-based publisher Harapan Baru. Also published was Daniken’s seminal “Chariots of The Gods” by another Bandung-based publisher Yayasan Tanadi under the title “Adakah Mahluk Lain dari Angkasa Luar?”.

1979
Painter maestro, Sudjana Kerton was allegedly abducted by UFO at his home in Dago Pakar, Bandung city, West Java.
Note: The story has never been thoroughly investigated although there are claims that UFO sightings have continued in the area.

June 30 1979
Publisher Yayasan Idayu held a special event in Jakarta’s National Awakening building where J. Salatun presented his paper on the current global UFO problem. The material would later be published as a book by Yayasan Idayu.