'PKI won't return, we've learned from past'<\/p>\n
Although not all of the constitutional rights of the relatives of
\nformer members and former members of the banned Indonesian
\nCommunist Party (PKI) have been reinstated, they can now exercise
\nthe right to vote and to run in the legislative elections. The
\nJakarta Post talked to some Jakarta residents about the issue.<\/p>\n
Safira, 32, is an editor at a publishing company in Palmerah,
\nWest Jakarta. She lives with her husband in South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I'm totally against the decision to allow former communist
\nparty members and relatives to vote because I don't want to give
\nthem the chance to practice communism in this country for the
\nsecond time.<\/p>\n
I don't think communism deserves a place in this country. Look
\nat the communist countries. The leaders are saying that
\neverything they do is for their country. But the truth is that
\nthey let the people suffer while enjoying the good life
\nthemselves. Thus, I think that it's better to prevent that before
\nit happens, rather than remedy the situation later.<\/p>\n
Aditya, 19, is a medical student at a state university in
\nSalemba, Central Jakarta. He lives with his parents in Kebayoran
\nLama, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I think it's OK for the government to restore their right to
\nvote. I don't think it's a threat because communism is no longer
\nan ideology that many people in this country want to hold on to.<\/p>\n
Just look at communist countries such as Cuba, North Korea,
\nand the Soviet Union (now Russia). None of those countries are
\nwell-developed. The people live in poverty and the country's
\neconomy is crippled by political instability and security
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
So, I'm not worried that communism will rise again in this
\ncountry as people here aren't that ignorant. We have learned from
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pki-wont-return-weve-learned-from-past-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }