Dealing with the communist legacy<\/p>\n
The fear of communism has resurfaced in Indonesia, as
\nreflected in recent remarks made by a number of top government
\nofficials. Among them was Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung, who told his subordinates last month to be alert to the
\ndanger of \"communist activities.\" Scholar Franz Magnis-Suseno
\nexplores the issue.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Since the crushing of the coup attempt of the
\n\"September 30 Movement\" on Oct. 1, 1965, appeals for vigilance
\nagainst communism have become part of the official vocabulary of
\nthe New Order.<\/p>\n
Indeed, for all we know the Indonesian Communist Party had a
\nmassive involvement in that coup -- which, with hindsight, would
\nnot really come as such a surprise. Tensions were already high.
\nAll through 1964 and 1965 communist influence had been growing
\nsteadily. The top cadres of the communist party were serious
\nMarxist-Leninists. They were out for the dictatorship of the
\nproletariat, meaning the dictatorship of the party.<\/p>\n
As a consequence, the communist party was banned and the
\nspreading of Marxism and Leninism forbidden. Since then, anything
\nsmelling even remotely of communism has been resolutely
\nsuppressed. It should be noted that this uncompromising anti-
\ncommunism represented a fundamental consensus of practically the
\nwhole non-communist spectrum of Indonesian political society.<\/p>\n
Under these circumstances, appeals for vigilance were
\nappropriate. But now, thirty years later, after Indonesia, under
\nthe leadership of President Soeharto, has been transformed into a
\nstable, self-confident and economically solid country, the
\nquestion arises whether such appeals are not in danger of
\nbecoming counter-productive.<\/p>\n
Not that we should ease up on communism. The totalitarian,
\nanti-religious ideology of Marxism-Leninism definitely has no
\nplace in a Pancasila state. And, probably, there are still some
\nold communist cadres around that survived the holocaust. But is
\nthere still a serious danger that they could stage a comeback?<\/p>\n
It is generally agreed that any kind of physical comeback is
\nout of the question. But what about communist ideology? Couldn't
\nit be spread clandestinely and slowly subvert the minds and
\nhearts of the people?<\/p>\n
An ideology is not some kind of a mascot you can take out of
\nthe closet at will. In order to become a motivating power, an
\nideology must offer something, must be future-oriented. It has to
\nlook young and invincible. But has communism any chance of
\nlooking like that again?<\/p>\n
Globally, communism has long lost out. Even before the
\ncollapse of the Soviet empire it had lost its spell. During the
\npast 15 years, not one of the many new revolutionary movements
\nentered world stage under the banner of communism or Marxism. The
\nfew surviving communist regimes in eastern Asia look more like
\nsomething out of Jurassic Park than possible models for the
\nfuture. The ideological forces that are now driving movements,
\ncivil wars or terrorist brotherhoods are no longer Marxist in
\nnature, but are of an ethnic or religious orientation.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, too, communism seems to have been thoroughly
\ndiscredited. Not only have 30 years of official anti-communism
\nhad their effect. The decisive point is that, in the eyes of the
\npeople, the communist party proved a paper tiger, or, in the
\nlanguage of the wayang shadow play, a self-proclaimed ratu adil,
\nor \"righteous king,\" who brought only death and destruction on
\nthe country. Communism appeared to be a charm without magical
\npowers that could not save the faithful. At the same time,
\nIndonesia achieved its impressive progress only after it rejected
\ncommunism.<\/p>\n
Our concern here is the younger generation. That generation is
\ncritical, often fed up with everything \"official,\" and, of
\ncourse, they have no experience of the communist threat in
\nIndonesia. They are extremely skeptical toward all official talk,
\nincluding talk about communism.<\/p>\n
I myself often meet students who are genuinely astonished when
\nI tell them that there was indeed once a communist danger and
\nthat at that time I, myself, was quite concerned about a possible
\ncommunist takeover. Some of these students believe that the whole
\ncommunism issue has been invented by the government, even though
\nthey have all been through at least three Pancasila ideology
\ncourses.<\/p>\n
This means nothing else than that there is a dangerous
\ncredibility gap between the generations. Now this gap cannot be
\nclosed by putting them through yet another Pancasila course.<\/p>\n
There is something else. Since communism is outlawed, students
\nreally do not know a thing about it. But precisely because of
\nthat, and probably because the government says it is a bad thing,
\nsome of them become attracted to or idealize Marxist concepts.<\/p>\n
This is a serious situation. Repeating the old admonitions
\nagain and again could make young people curious to find out for
\nthemselves what kind of creature is so much feared by the older
\ngeneration. Not more talk is needed from us. Rather, honesty is
\ncalled for.<\/p>\n
Thus, for instance, we have to stop the despicable habit of
\naccusing individuals or NGOs who defend human rights, sympathize
\nwith workers or come to the assistance of farmers in land
\ndisputes, as being \"infected\" with communism. If we don't want
\nour youngsters to become communist sympathizers, then let us stop
\ngiving them the impression that communism means solidarity with
\nthe victims of injustice.<\/p>\n
We also should do what is expressly provided for in decree
\nnumber 25\/MPRS\/1966: Allow the scientific study of the theories
\nof Marxism and Communism. Why should we be afraid to let our
\nyoung intellectuals find out for themselves?<\/p>\n
Dr. Franz Magnis-Suseno SJ teaches social philosophy at the
\nDriyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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