Ban PKI, not communist ideology: Abdurrahman

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)