November 12, 2025 | 11:11 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The establishment of the Marsinah Museum is currently underway in Nganjuk, East Java. The museum will be housed in Marsinah's grandmother's house, where she lived from childhood to adolescence. The renovation process is carried out without altering the house's main structure as a form of respect.
Andi Gani Nena Wea, the President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSPSI), who has been one of the driving forces of labor support, stated that the initial idea of establishing the museum came from Marsinah's family.
"The family wants something truly monumental. Marsinah's struggle was so difficult and must be remembered by the public and the workers," said Andi when contacted on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
He mentioned that the museum is not a new building, but rather a refurbishment of Marsinah's grandmother's house, which is still standing about 500 meters from the activist's grave. "Only essential renovations are being carried out. Nothing is completely altered because the family wants the house to remain as it originally was," he said.
Eventually, the house will display Marsinah's belongings, which have been kept by her family. These include struggle letters, notes in which Marsinah expressed her grievances to her brother, diaries, pens, clothing, and other documents related to her life as a labor activist.
"The room will be left as it is. Only the damaged or leaking parts will be repaired," said Andi.
Funding for the museum is being provided through a collective effort of the labor coalition, rather than from one specific organization. Since the public release of this plan, workers from various regions have reached out to the family and leading figures to express their willingness to contribute. "The response has been remarkable," said Andi.
Andi stated that he, along with several labor union representatives, will review the condition of the house on November 18. "We want to directly ensure which parts need to be restored. We must not alter the essence of the building because this is a historical space," he said.
Marsinah is widely known as an icon of the Indonesian labor struggle after being found dead in May 1993 following a strike in Sidoarjo. To this day, her murder remains one of the darkest tragedies in the history of the labor movement and human rights in Indonesia.
President Prabowo Subianto bestowed the title of National Hero upon Marsinah in a ceremony at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday, November 10, 2025. The conferment was based on the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 116/TK/2025 concerning the Bestowal of the National Hero Title.
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