Just One Day Comrade (Sehari Saja Kawan) Indonesia Share Tweet Just One Day Comrade (Sehari Saja Kawan) is one of many poems written by a well-known Indonesian poet Wiji Thukul about the strength of workers’ unity. Through the power of his words, he has inspired many youth and workers to fight against the oppressive capitalism. Just One Day Comrade (Sehari Saja Kawan) is one of many poems written by a well-known Indonesian poet Wiji Thukul about the strength of workers' unity. Through the power of his words, he has inspired many youth and workers to fight against the oppressive capitalism. Born in Solo in 1963, Wiji Thukul was the son of a pedicab driver and a day labourer himself. In the early 1990s he became involved with the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) and with other revolutionary artists he set up the Peoples Culture Network (JAKER). His artistic activities were always closely connected to the struggle of workers and poor urban residents around him. In December 1995 he nearly lost his sight as a result of police brutality when he was leading a strike of the Sritex textile workers. He became a member of the PRD central council and had to go underground after the July 27 riots in 1996, together with many other PRD leaders and activists. He kept in touch with comrades and friends until 1998. It is likely that he was kidnapped and killed by the Indonesian military. His family and comrades are still fighting to find his whereabouts. Here we publish one of his works in Bahasa Indonesia and English, to show that you can kill a man but you cannot kill his idea. Just One Day Comrade By: Wiji Thukul (1963 - 1998) One comrade brings three comrades Each one brings five comrades How many comrades do we have? One comrade brings three comrades Each one brings five comrades If we are one factory, imagine comrade! If we are one heart comrade One demand united in voice One factory one force We are not dreaming, comrade! If one factory united in heart Strike with one hundred posters Three days three nights Why not, comrade? If one factory one trade union United in heart Strike together ten provinces Just one day comrade Just one day comrade Just one day comrade If we who are millions in number United in heart and strike Then cotton will remain cotton Because the loom will die Cotton will remain cotton Will not become cloth like rainbow the factory will die The street as well Kids don't go to school Because there is no bus The sky will be quiet Because the planes are not flying Because the airport dies Just one day comrade If we strike And sing together in one rank Just one day comrade The capitalists will tremble!! Sehari Saja Kawan Oleh: Wiji Thukul (1963-1998) Satu kawan bawa tiga kawan Masing-masing nggandeng lima kawan Sudah berapa kita punya kawan? Satu kawan bawa tiga kawan Masing-masing nggandeng lima kawan Kalau kita satu pabrik bayangkan kawan! Kalau kita satu hati kawan Satu tuntutan bersatu suara Satu pabrik satu kekuatan Kita tak mimpi kawan! Kalau satu pabrik bersatu hati Mogok dengan seratus poster Tiga hari tiga malam Kenapa tidak kawan Kalau satu pabrik satu serikat buruh Bersatu hati Mogok bersama sepuluh daerah Sehari saja kawan Sehari saja kawan Sehari saja kawan Kalau kita yang berjuta-juta Bersatu hati mogok Maka kapas tetap terwujud kapas Karena mesin pintal akan mati Kapas akan tetap berwujud kapas Tidak akan berwujud menjadi kain-kain Serupa pelangi pabrik akan lumpuh mati Juga jalan-jalan Anak-anak tak pergi sekolah Karena tak ada bis Langitpun akan sunyi Karena mesin pesawat terbang tak berputar Karena lapangan terbang lumpuh mati Sehari saja kawan Kalau kita mogok kerja Dan menyanyi dalam satu barisan Sehari saja kawan Kapitalis pasti kelabakan!!
