Calls rise for truth behind 'PKI coup'<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Demands have resurfaced for the government to reveal the truth
\nbehind the abortive Sept. 30, 1965, coup as a perquisite for
\nreconciliation between the victims and those involved in one of
\nthe world's worst tragedies, the seeds of which have been blamed
\non the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
The government was also urged to enforce the law against the
\nmasterminds, including CIA agents, behind the bloody coup attempt
\nand its consequences, which lead to the deaths of more than
\n500,000 people, including seven Army generals.<\/p>\n
\"Reconciliation is impossible before the true history of the
\ntragedy is first divulged and justice is meted out to those
\nresponsible,\" said Dita Indah Sari, a senior member of the
\nleftist People's Democratic Party (PRD).<\/p>\n
She was speaking at a seminar titled Solving Historical
\nConflicts by Means of Truth and Reconciliation here on Monday,
\nwhich also featured People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy
\nSpeaker Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo and political analyst Harry Tjan
\nSilalahi from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS).<\/p>\n
James D. Filgo, who once oversaw the International Military
\nEducation and Training Program (IMET) at the U.S. Embassy, was
\nalso among the speakers.<\/p>\n
The seminar also discussed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
\ndocuments showing America's involvement in the Sept. 30, 1965,
\ntragedy.<\/p>\n
Harry and Agus, the sons of Soetojo Siswomihardjo, one of the
\nseven murdered generals, also backed calls for the rewriting of
\nthe coup history to spell out the truth following the release of
\nthe CIA documents.<\/p>\n
\"Rewriting the history is now a must to uncover the truth.
\nHistory is never over when new facts are discovered,\" Harry said,
\nadding that the desire for revenge on the part of the victims
\nshould now be converted into a desire for reconciliation.<\/p>\n
But the statements from Harry, Agus and Filgo sparked strong
\nreactions from among the audience, mostly victims and opponents
\nof former strongman Soeharto's New Order regime, as the three
\nspeakers appeared to defend the CIA's key role in the coup.<\/p>\n
Harry said the intervention by the CIA in the domestic affairs
\nof Indonesia and other countries was \"normal\" during the Cold War
\nbetween capitalists in the West and socialists led by Russia. His
\nremark was echoed by Agus and Filgo.<\/p>\n
Dita, who chairs the PRD's National Front for Indonesian Labor
\nStruggle (FNBI), however rebuffed the claims, saying such a
\nsystematic conspiracy was \"abnormal\" as it led to the killing of
\n500,000 or more people, and other disastrous consequences.<\/p>\n
Separately on Monday, the children of the seven assassinated
\ngenerals and the descendants of deceased PKI supporters,
\nsimilarly demanded that the government reveal the truth behind
\nthe failed coup.<\/p>\n
At the launching of a book titled Kunang-kunang Kebenaran di
\nLangit Malam (Fireflies of the Truth in the Night Sky),
\nCatherine, the eldest daughter of Brig. Gen. D.I. Panjaitan, said
\nthat none of the generals' children harbored resentment against
\nPKI supporters and their descendants.<\/p>\n
Megawati to miss ceremony<\/p>\n
In an unprecedented move, President Megawati Soekarnopoutri is
\nnot to attend the solemn annual ceremony to commemorate the 1965
\nabortive coup here on Tuesday, presidential sources said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
It was not clear why she would not attend the commemoration,
\nto be held at the Lubang Buaya monument in East Jakarta, where
\nthe bodies of seven Army generals were dumped.<\/p>\n
Sources close to the presidential palace said they could not
\nsay why Megawati had decided to skip the commemoration, which
\nthree former presidents, Soeharto, B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman
\nWahid, never missed.<\/p>\n
Her absence is expected to raise speculation among analysts
\nand the public at large.<\/p>",
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