Savanajaya Former Exile Site

Origins and Formation Period

The formation of Savanajaya began in the late 1960s, precisely when the New Order government decided to relocate thousands of Category B political prisoners from various prisons in Java to Buru Island. Savanajaya was chosen as the location for Unit I of the Inrehab (Rehabilitation Installation) settlement due to its relatively flat terrain and proximity to a river, although at the time it was still a wild swamp and savanna.

Construction began intensively in 1969. The name "Savanajaya" itself carries symbolic hope: "Savana" refers to the vast grasslands, and "Jaya" means victory or success. Collectively, this name reflects the government's ambition to conquer Buru's wilderness through the hands of the prisoners. Unlike other units that resembled military barracks more closely, Savanajaya was designed as a "model village" that would later be inhabited by the political prisoners along with their families brought from Java.

Architecture and Construction Details

The architecture at the Savanajaya Site reflects pure functionality with a simplified touch of colonial-tropical design. The early buildings on the site were constructed using local materials combined with cement and teak or meranti wood planks processed by the prisoners themselves.

One of the most prominent architectural landmarks is the Savanajaya Arts Building. This building features a high gable roof structure for air circulation, an adaptation to Buru's scorching tropical climate. Its walls are made of neatly arranged wooden planks, while the floor uses rough cement. Additionally, the residential houses for the political prisoners in this unit were built in an orderly grid pattern, resembling the spatial layout of villages in Java (local transmigration). This was done to create an illusion of normalcy amidst total isolation. Uniquely, the irrigation system built around Savanajaya is the result of technical engineering by prisoners with technical education backgrounds, making this area one of the most productive rice barns in Maluku to this day.

Historical Significance and Key Events

Savanajaya played a crucial role as the administrative and social center for the entire exile complex on Buru Island. It was here that interactions between prisoners, military guards, and the local community (indigenous Buru people) occurred intensely. One of the most remembered historical events was the arrival of the prisoners' wives and children in the early 1970s. Savanajaya became the only unit that allowed family reunification, a policy aimed at "permanently" establishing the presence of the political prisoners on the island so they would not return to Java.

This site also witnessed the birth of various intellectual works amidst oppression. Under strict supervision, the prisoners strived to maintain their sanity through cultural activities. At the Savanajaya Arts Building, drama performances, music, and orchestras were often held to entertain fellow prisoners and officers. Life in Savanajaya was a paradox between physical suffering due to forced labor and intellectual sharpness that refused to be extinguished.

Prominent Figures and Period Connections

The name Savanajaya cannot be separated from the figure of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Although Pramoedya spent much of his time in Unit XV (Lere), his intellectual footprint extended to Savanajaya. Many early manuscripts of the Buru Quartet were worked on using old typewriters in this exile environment. Besides Pramoedya, figures like the writer Rivai Apin, the painter Basuki Resobowo (before he went to Europe), and thousands of other scholars, lecturers, and artists once set foot on Savanajaya soil.

The presence of these figures transformed Savanajaya into a "university in the middle of the forest." They taught each other about agriculture, building techniques, and even foreign languages. The period from 1969 to 1979 (the year of mass release) in Savanajaya was a time when human identity was tested and redefined through collective work.

Preservation Status and Restoration Efforts

Currently, the Savanajaya Former Exile Site is in a condition that requires serious attention. After the political prisoners were released in 1979, many of them chose to stay and assimilate with the general transmigrant population. Savanajaya village has now developed into a bustling, established village.

The Buru Regency government has begun to recognize the historical potential of this site as a historical tourism asset (dark tourism). The Arts Building has undergone several minor renovations, although its original parts are beginning to erode with age. Preservation efforts are currently focused on maintaining the remaining physical structures and collecting artifacts in the form of agricultural tools and household items of the prisoners. There is a push from historical activists to designate Savanajaya as a National Cultural Heritage Site to ensure that the historical narrative that occurred there is not lost to time.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Culturally, Savanajaya is a portrait of successful acculturation. At this site, Javanese cultural values brought by the prisoners intersected with Maluku's local wisdom. In terms of religion, the construction of places of worship such as mosques and churches in Savanajaya was carried out through mutual cooperation by the prisoners regardless of their ideological background. This created a strong foundation of tolerance in the Wayapo region.

Savanajaya also holds philosophical value about reconciliation. Although it originated from political wounds, this village is now a symbol of new life. The presence of monuments or nameless graves in the public cemetery around the site serves as a reminder of those who did not get to return home, providing space for spiritual reflection on forgiveness and the nation's collective memory.

In conclusion, Savanajaya Former Exile Site is not just ruins of the past. It is a living narrative of how humans can survive at their lowest point, create civilization from nothingness, and leave a legacy of fertile agricultural lands that continue to sustain thousands of lives on Buru Island. Preserving this site means preserving the honesty of Indonesian history.