'No PKI remnants in Russia'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian ambassador to Moscow Rachmat Witoelar
\nsaid yesterday there were no longer elements of the banned
\nIndonesian Communist Party (PKI) in Russia.<\/p>\n
\"There are no PKI remnants as far as I know. There are only
\nformer Indonesian students who remain stateless,\" Rachmat told
\nreporters after meeting President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The PKI was outlawed in 1966, after being accused of
\nmasterminding a coup attempt against former president Sukarno in
\n1965.<\/p>\n
Rachmat said that most PKI members had fled to other European
\ncountries such as the Netherlands and Germany.<\/p>\n
\"Even the stateless people, five or six of them, are not doing
\nanything,\" Rachmat said, adding that there were strict rules on
\nthe cancellation of Indonesian citizenships.<\/p>\n
He said it was virtually impossible for those who had had
\ntheir citizenships canceled to return to Indonesia because
\nimmigration rules were so strict.<\/p>\n
\"There is no mercy for those who are opposed to the New Order
\ngovernment (under President Soeharto),\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Rachmat, communism in Russia is now a thing of
\nthe past, a laughable idea for Russian youths.<\/p>\n
On trade, Rachmat said it was a shame that Indonesian
\nbusinesspeople were less aggressive in Russia than their
\nVietnamese or Malaysian counterparts who were successful there.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian businesses think that Russia is still unsafe for
\nbusiness,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rachmat said Indonesia's exports to Russia are worth US$300
\nmillion a year compared to Vietnam's exports which are worth $500
\nmillion a year, mainly in rice, vegetables and seafood.<\/p>\n
\"My wife can even buy tempe (fermented soybean cake) and tahu
\n(soybean curd) at a Vietnamese grocery store there,\" Rachmat
\nsaid. (14)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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