Little support for lifting of communism ban<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to have
\na 34-year-old ban on communism revoked has failed to garner much
\nsupport, with only the National Awakening Party (PKB) officially
\nproposing that the issue be deliberated by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Spokesman for PKB faction in the MPR Syafrin Romas said on
\nTuesday that it supported Abdurrahman's proposal on the grounds
\nthat communism, as any other way of thinking, could not be
\nprohibited. The PKB was cofounded by the President.<\/p>\n
\"The ban violates democracy and human rights. We just want the
\ncommittee to discuss it,\" Syafrin said on sidelines of an MPR ad
\nhoc committee meeting.<\/p>\n
Communism was banned in 1966 through a decree issued by the
\nAssembly, which at the time was a provisional body, following an
\nabortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
Syafrin said his faction supported the ban against PKI because
\nit had twice attempted a coup, in 1948 and 1965.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has repeatedly asked the Assembly to revoke the
\ndecree for the sake of human rights and democracy. His
\npersistence has drawn criticism from various quarters and
\ntriggered demands for the MPR to hold a special session to
\nimpeach him.<\/p>\n
The President said it was the prerogative of the MPR to accept
\nhis proposal or not.<\/p>\n
Major factions at the MPR, such as the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar, the Reform faction
\nand the United Development Party (PPP), expressed their
\nopposition on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Golkar faction spokesman Rambe Kamaruzaman said his party
\nwould reject any plan to discuss the revocation bid.<\/p>\n
\"We will deliver our proposal, which will not recommend any
\nforum to deliberate the revocation of the communism ban,\" said
\nRambe, who also chairs the MPR ad hoc committee dealing with,
\namong other things, constitutional amendments.<\/p>\n
He said other parties had also rejected the proposal.<\/p>\n
\"I predict all factions, except PKB, will reject the
\nrevocation of the decree. They even refuse to discuss it,\" Rambe
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Many have speculated that Abdurrahman, also a well-known
\nMuslim cleric, is trying to expand his political influence by
\nsoliciting the support of former PKI members with his proposal.<\/p>\n
In the 1955 general election, PKI along with the Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Party, the Indonesian Nationalist Party and Masyumi,
\ngained the most votes. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/little-support-for-lifting-of-communism-ban-1447893297",
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