A Test of Loyalty Behind Bars

Oei Tjoe Tat, a former State Minister, spent 11 years in prison during the New Order era. His greatest anticipation during those years was receiving food containers from his wife, Rika, who was fondly known as Kwee Loan Nio. Despite the food sometimes being damaged during prison inspections, it provided a much-needed respite from the poor and nutrition-deficient prison rations.

Oei was initially held at the Budi Utomo Military Detention Center in Central Jakarta and later transferred to the Nirbaya Rehabilitation Facility in East Jakarta. During his time there, he was part of a small communal dining group with other inmates. The food sent by their family members was pooled together and shared among the group members.

Rika and the wives of other political prisoners took turns delivering the meals to the prison every day. They would pack enough food in containers to last a week, but the guards would still inspect the contents. According to Oei's son, Oei Tiang Tik, who was present at the Budi Utomo RTM, the guards would probe the rice and even cut open papayas, fearing that there might be hidden provisions.