KUPANG -- The effort to reconstruct the facial illustration of National Hero Depati Amir has entered an important stage with a historical retracing activity in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara. The activity involved Bangka Belitung historian Datuk Akhmad Elvian along with PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk and representatives of Depati Amir’s descendants.
This retracing is a crucial part of strengthening the historical validity of Depati Amir’s facial reconstruction by directly tracing the hero’s exile in Kupang.
The series of activities began with a gathering with Depati Amir’s descendants in Banten before the group departed for Kupang. Among those participating were Datuk Akhmad Elvian, representatives of PT TIMAH, and Ustaz H. Zainal Abidin, a descendant of Depati Amir through the Depati Hamzah lineage.
Upon arrival in Kupang, the group made pilgrimages to the graves of Depati Amir, Depati Bahren, and Depati Hamzah. The retracing continued with visits to several historical sites closely related to Depati Amir’s life during exile, such as Al Baitul Qadim Mosque in Air Mata Village, believed to be the first mosque built by Depati Amir, as well as his residence.
In addition, the group also visited the ablution site used by Depati Amir, Kupang prison, and the old Kupang port, which marked the initial point of his arrival during exile.
The highlight of the activity was a family deliberation held at the Meeting Room of Aston Hotel Kupang on Sunday night (April 19, 2026). The forum was attended by representatives of Depati Amir’s descendants, both from the Depati Amir and Depati Hamzah lineages, historians, and representatives of PT TIMAH.
The deliberation resulted in the family’s approval of the reconstructed facial illustration of Depati Amir, which had undergone a long process based on historical references.
One of the main references in this process is the book “Schilderungen aus Ostindiens Archipel” (1841) by Franz Epp. This book is a collection of travel descriptions and observations in the East Indies archipelago in the early 19th century, reflecting the era of European expansion in Southeast Asia.
Datuk Akhmad Elvian emphasized that the reconstruction had been carried out carefully, referring to credible historical sources as well as information from the family.
“As a historian, I appreciate PT TIMAH’s commitment to supporting historical preservation. More than seven years after Depati Amir was awarded the title of National Hero, this effort strengthens his legacy through a reconstructed facial illustration that has now received family approval in Kupang,” he said.
He hopes that the reconstruction results can soon be followed up with a submission to the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
A family representative, Dewi Sulita Bahren, expressed her emotional reaction upon seeing the reconstruction, which she considered more realistic than images previously circulated.
“Thank you to PT TIMAH for continuously providing support, both during the proposal process for Depati Amir as a National Hero and in the reconstruction of his image. We are touched and proud that our ancestor (Depati Amir) was willing to leave comfort behind and choose to wage guerrilla resistance in the forests against the injustice of colonialism at that time,” she said.
A similar sentiment was conveyed by Ustaz H. Zainal Abidin, who admitted feeling emotional upon first seeing the reconstruction.
“I got goosebumps the first time I saw the reconstructed image of Depati Amir. His figure appears firm, with a sharp gaze and strong posture. It reflects his spirit of struggle against injustice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Corporate Communication Department of PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk, Anggi Siahaan, stated that the reconstruction process had been carried out over the past several months. The reconstruction team collaborated with historians and family descendants to obtain a visual representation of Depati Amir, using both primary references and secondary data from interviews and other opinions.
“Thank God, this is part of PT TIMAH’s commitment to supporting historical preservation and honoring the services of National Hero Depati Amir.
“The reconstruction process went smoothly and has received approval from both the family and historians. This is an important step in presenting a visual representation of Depati Amir as a National Hero, a pride of Bangka Belitung,” he said. (*)
