One of his poems, "Sajak Ibu" was set to music by the world famous composer and pianist Ananda Sukarlan who is Indonesia's leading figure in art song.

Thukul helped organize workers demonstrations and was a member of Partai Rakyat Demokratik (People's Democratic Party).

In a worker demonstration in 1995, Thukul was struck in the eye by a rifle butt, causing permanent damage to his sight.

In 2014, politician Andi Arief stated that Thukul is still alive and was kidnapped by Prabowo Subianto and his military troupe.

Some of this information in this article is taken from the biographical essay 'Wiji Thukul: People's Poet' by Tinuk R. Yampolsky, in Menagerie 5, edited by John McGlynn and Laora Arkeman, Lontar Foundation, Jakarta, 2003.