Communist can infiltrate ABRI<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): A senior military officer says
\nthat even the Armed Forces (ABRI), with their tight security
\narrangements, are vulnerable to communist infiltration.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, assistant to the ABRI chief of social
\nand political affairs, said yesterday that the communists have
\ninsidious methods for penetrating virtually any organization,
\nincluding ABRI and religious groups.<\/p>\n
The West Java branch of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) reportedly
\ntook offense at Syarwan's earlier statement that the Moslem
\norganization had once been infiltrated by members of the now-
\nbanned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
\"With its large membership, can anybody guarantee that the NU
\nis free from communist infiltration?\" Syarwan asked during a
\nseminar at Diponegoro University here. \"Even ABRI, with its tight
\nsecurity systems, can be penetrated.\"<\/p>\n
The NU currently has some 34 million members and supporters,
\nmost of them in rural areas, making it the largest organization
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Syarwan denied yesterday that he had \"accused\" the NU of
\nhaving communist links.<\/p>\n
Syarwan told a seminar in Jakarta on Saturday that, in the
\n1960s, elements of the PKI had infiltrated various organizations,
\nincluding the Sarekat Islam and the NU. The PKI was one of the
\nlargest political groups in Indonesia before it was banned in
\nMarch 1966, six months after an abortive coup attempt which the
\nArmy blamed on the communists.<\/p>\n
The NU's West Java branch said in a statement made available
\nto the press early this week that its members rejected the
\nallegations, as well as Syarwan's statement categorizing the NU
\nas an \"extreme right-wing\" organization.<\/p>\n
\"The NU is anti-communist and it is impossible for it to
\ncompromise with communist teachings,\" said the statement, issued
\nin Bandung, capital of West Java.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said last Saturday that it was nothing new for PKI
\nmembers to join \"extreme right-wing\" organizations.<\/p>\n
\"Long before their rebellion, PKI members had experience in
\ninfiltrating mass and religious organizations. They entered the
\nNU, student and labor organizations,\" Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
Nahdlatul Ulama, which means \"the awakening of the religious
\nteachers\", has been both a political party and a religious
\norganization since its founding in 1926.<\/p>\n
The ulemas organization said Syarwan's statement was
\nmisleading and might harm national unity. They demanded that
\nSyarwan apologize to all NU members for making the remarks.
\n(har\/31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/communist-can-infiltrate-abri-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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