PDI-P changes stance on PKI<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nremoved the only potential hurdle for a smooth Assembly session
\non Sunday by withdrawing its proposal to repeal a decree banning
\nthe Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the dissemination of
\ncommunism, Marxism and Leninism teachings in the country.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's about-face was made public at the preliminary
\nhearing of the People's Consultative Assembly Commission B in
\ncharge of identifying decrees to be repealed in the current
\nAssembly session.<\/p>\n
\"In order to ease debate, we are ready and willing to withdraw
\nour proposal (to revoke the banning of the PKI),\" PDI Perjuangan
\nspokesman I Gede Sudibya said at the hearing on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The statement drew applause from legislators attending the
\nhearing.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan legislator Permadi said after the hearing that
\nthe faction withdrew its proposal in order to avoid voting on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan, the largest faction in the MPR, had been
\nsteadfast in its proposal to repeal an MPR decree issued in 1966
\nthat outlawed the PKI and banned the dissemination of information
\non communism, Marxism and Leninism after the 1965 abortive coup.<\/p>\n
Following the failed coup blamed on the PKI, hundreds of
\nthousands of suspected PKI members and their family members were
\nkilled in waves of violent vengeance against the party.<\/p>\n
Relatives of alleged PKI members were also discriminated
\nagainst for more than three decades under the leadership of iron-
\nfisted Soeharto, who effectively became president after Sukarno
\nsigned a decree giving him executive power to restore peace and
\norder in the attempted coup's aftermath.<\/p>\n
The executive power is known as Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret
\nor the March 11 Executive Order, also known as Super Semar.<\/p>\n
At Sunday's hearing, all factions agreed that the ban on the
\nPKI and the dissemination of communism, Marxism and Leninism
\nteachings must be maintained.<\/p>\n
They, however, emphasized that discrimination against family
\nmembers or relatives of suspected former PKI members must be
\nended. They did not say how.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the military and police faction Djasrie Marin
\nsaid on Sunday that the nation must not waver in its ban on the
\nPKI and communism.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan also demanded that several decrees relating to
\nfounding president Sukarno be repealed in a show of goodwill to
\nrehabilitate the image of Sukarno.<\/p>\n
Other factions, however, rejected the proposal, arguing that
\nthere was no need to rehabilitate Sukarno's name as he was
\nalready remembered as a prominent father of the nation.<\/p>\n
MPR decrees relating to Sukarno include on the Super Semar to
\nSoeharto and a decree on the revocation of Sukarno's presidency.<\/p>\n
The 11 factions in the Assembly remain divided on other MPR
\ndecrees.<\/p>\n
The Regional Representatives faction (FUD) is the only faction
\nthat insisted on maintaining an MPR decree on the implementation
\nof regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Other factions demanded that the decree be repealed because
\nregulations on regional autonomy were clearly mentioned in the
\namended Constitution and regional autonomy laws.<\/p>\n
Regarding the legal status of MPR decrees, the Annual Session
\nproposed to classify 139 decrees issued between 1960 and 2002
\ninto eight groups.<\/p>\n
The first group is for decrees to be repealed, the second for
\ndecrees to be repealed with conditions, the third for decrees
\ndeclared effective with conditions, the fourth for decrees
\ndeclared effective until the setting up of a new government in
\n2004, the fifth for decrees declared effective until the
\nenactment of laws, the sixth for decrees declared effective until
\nthe enactment of new Assembly internal regulations, the seventh
\nfor decrees considered to be equal to laws, and the eight for
\ndecrees considered effective at the time of endorsement.<\/p>\n
Of the total 139 decrees, 12 decrees remain unsolved,
\nproviding reason for factions to debate.<\/p>\n
Unsettled decrees
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nNo Decrees Issue
\n----------------------------------------------------------------
\n1. No.XV\/MPR\/1998 Regional Autonomy
\n2. No.IX\/MPRS\/1966 Super Semar
\n3. No.XXXIII\/MPRS\/1967 Revocation of Sukarno's power
\n4. No.XLIII\/MPRS\/1968 Explanation of Super Semar
\n5. No.XXV\/MPRS\/1966 Ban on PKI, communism
\n6. No.XI\/MPR\/1998 Clean Government
\n7. No.XVI\/MPR\/1998 Economic Democracy
\n8. No.VIII\/MPR\/2001 Recommendation for Corruption<\/p>\n
Eradication
\n9. No.XXIX\/MPRS\/1966 Inauguration of Ampera Heroes
\n10. No.V\/MPR\/2000 National Unity
\n11. No.VI\/MPR\/2001 Nationhood Ethics
\n12. No.VII\/MPR\/2001 Indonesia's Vision
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nSource: Assembly's Annual Session<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-p-changes-stance-on-pki-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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