Ban PKI, not communist ideology: Abdurrahman

KLATEN, Central Java: President Abdurrahman Wahid rebuked criticism of his support for the revocation of MPRS Decree No. 25/1965, saying Communist political parties should be banned not the ideology.

"I need to put this in the correct perspective. Our constitution does not prohibit communism. The MPRS decree was based on three rebellion attempts by the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party)," he said in response to a question during a dialog held after Friday prayers here.

"If necessary, the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) should revoke the decree and then issue another decree (which bans the PKI)," he said during the 20-minute talk.

Abdurrahman's support for a repeal of the decree has evoked ire from several leading politicians, particularly those aligned with the Axis Force coalition.

There have been suggestions from politicians such as Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and leaders of the Crescent Star Party that a Special Session of the Assembly be held to review Abdurrahman's presidency due to the matter.

But Abdurrahman has remained unfazed in his conviction that no specific ideology or belief should be banned by the state.

"The state can't regulate people's beliefs. People are free to profess any belief," he said, adding that he would further discuss his motivation for supporting the revocation of the decree during National Awakening Day on May 20.

Abdurrahman also noted the New Order administration used the perceived threat of communism to rob many Indonesians of their political rights.

"If it true that our society can't accept the philosophy of communism, then educate our society to give them a better understanding of it," he added.

Following his brief stop in Klaten, the President paid his respects at the royal burial site of Imogiri, where the kings of the Mataram Kingdom are buried. He then visited the burial plot of famed poet Ronggo Warsito, located some 12 kilometers south of here. (44)