Communism alive

Communism alive
and well here,
military warns

JAKARTA (JP): The Soviet block in eastern Europe may have
collapsed but according to a senior Army officer, Indonesia must
be vigilant against a communist revival.

"Communism remains a latent danger in Indonesia now and in the
future," Brig. Gen. Agum Gumelar, the chief of the Army's elite
force Kopassus, told reporters yesterday.

"Communism will return if the condition of society becomes
chaotic," Agum said during a rare press conference given by him
at the command's headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta, in
connection with Kopassus' upcoming 42nd anniversary.

The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has been outlawed since
1966.

Kopassus spearheaded the Army's move to quash the communist
forces immediately after the failed coup attempt by PKI in 1965.

The highly disciplined force has also been prominent in most
major military operations in Indonesia, including putting down
separatist rebellions in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya.

Agum said leftist and rightist elements are constantly trying
to replace the political system in Indonesia which has been
painstakingly built since 1966, by criticizing and attacking the
system at every opportune moment.

He felt that they immediately blame the system for any
mishaps, adding that the right elements would also exploit
religious issues to further their cause.

He also warned against other elements, particularly from
Western-educated liberal-minded intellectuals, who constantly
demand political and economic reforms.

"They focus on labor and land conflicts to attack the
government. Such movements, if not controlled, will worsen the
social, political and economic conditions," he said.

He accused non-governmental organizations of using such issues
as democratization, political openness, environmental protection
and human rights to discredit the government and the Armed Forces
(ABRI).

"We know many NGOs have become vocal, both at home and
overseas, on human rights and environmental issues in their
efforts to discredit the government and ABRI. They are also
against the constitution and Pancasila," he said.

"What do Princen and Adnan Buyung Nasution really hope to
achieve by advocating the human rights of criminals?" he asked,
referring two of Indonesia's most outspoken human rights
campaigners. "Tell me which is more important. Protecting the
human rights of criminals or those of the good guys?"

Open

He said ABRI and the government were open to criticism,
provided they were aired with the intention to help the
government improve the people welfare and not to replace the
system because.

"What would become of this nation if there was a revolution to
overturn the Pancasila democracy?," he asked. "We will go back to
square one after people have been waiting for a long time to
enjoy a good standard of living."

Despite many shortcomings and weaknesses, people should give
credit to the present government for improving their welfare, he
said.

Agum also warned that Kopassus would remain true to its
commitment to preserve the national stability and will strike at
anyone who is out to create trouble.

"Kopassus will never tolerate anyone or any group who want to
replace the constitution and the Pancasila ideology," he said.
"Kopassus will never betray the state ideology." (rms)