South Tangerang, February 7, 2025 – In an effort to strengthen the values of peace and reconciliation, Initiatives of Change (IofC) Indonesia organized the event “Fellowship Weekend with Mr. Letlapa Mphahlele.” The two-day event, held on February 7-8, 2025, at MTSN 1 South Tangerang, featured a discussion on the documentary film Beyond Forgiving with Mr. Letlapa Mphahlele, one of the main figures in the film.

Beyond Forgiving tells the true story of the transformative journey of Letlapa Mphahlele, the former military leader of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) in South Africa. Letlapa, who once ordered an armed attack that killed Gillian Fourie in 1993, has now become an active advocate for reconciliation and peace.

Letlapa is in Indonesia on the invitation of IofC Indonesia and with the support of the global IofC community. He stayed in Indonesia for two weeks to support the Indonesian team in voicing recovery and forgiveness for peace. He visited Bandung and Jakarta from January 28 to February 13, 2025.

In Bandung, the screening of the film Beyond Forgiving is in collaboration with interfaith communities such as Sekolah Damai Indonesia, the Synod of Gereja Kristen Pasundan (GKP), and Komuji (Komunitas Musisi Mengaji Bandung). Each event discussed the current situation of freedom of religion and belief. One of the respondents from GKP, Pastor Obertina, stated that in the film, Letlapa repeatedly mentioned that storytelling is a healing process. That is why Letlapa and Gin are willing to travel the world and share their stories so that many people are inspired to do the same. In my personal experience, storytelling about the violence we endured has been my way of recovering from the severe trauma caused by that violence.

“Forgiving and forgiveness is not an event; both are ongoing processes. It’s all about consistency in forgiving every time. And from my point of view, the key is never to let your enemy set your moral standard. Just because they humiliate you, doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing,” Letlapa stated in one of the discussion sessions.

Learning from a True Story

The film not only portrays the dark history of political conflict in South Africa but also demonstrates how dialogue and forgiveness can heal deep wounds. Letlapa, who was once involved in violence, has become a symbol of reconciliation. His relationship with Ginn Fourie, the mother of Gillian Fourie, stands as evidence that peace can be achieved even amidst profound pain.

The event was attended by a diverse group, including students from UIN Jakarta, pesantren students from Pesantren Jagat Arsy, as well as members and coordinators of IofC Indonesia, including Miftahul Huda. Participants were invited not only to watch the film but also to engage in various interactive activities such as playing the card game Friends for Life, engaging in discussions about past traumas, and sharing life experiences.

A Constant Process of Forgiveness

Fikriyah, one of IofC Indonesia members present at the event, emphasized the importance of letting go of the dramatization of memories that often trap a person in suffering. “The problem is, sometimes we tend to romanticize memories. What I mean is that when we have a problem with someone or something, we keep remembering the mistake, even to the point of repeatedly simulating the event. That’s what makes us suffer. The incident is over, it’s gone, but the memory that we keep romanticizing keeps repeating from our own perspective,” she explained.

The Importance of This Event for Indonesian Society

In a society where emotional wounds are often passed down through generations, this event served as a space to learn to let go of grudges and find peace. The concept of Beyond Forgiving teaches that forgiveness is not an instant act, but rather a process that requires consistency and courage.

“We cannot live in peace with the constant shadow of grudges against certain people. Beyond Forgiving is something that is especially missing in Indonesian society, where the inherited sense of ‘not wanting to offend’ often causes deep emotional wounds, leading to stress and other issues,” explained Miftahul Huda, Coordinator of IofC Indonesia.

A Platform for Intergenerational Collaboration

This Fellowship Weekend was not only an opportunity for learning but also a space for building networks and intergenerational collaboration. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their life experiences through sessions of Life Experience Sharing and interactive games designed to strengthen the bonds among them.

Writer: Jundi Al Jihady, Miftahul Huda

Editor: Ari Budi S