Communists prey on youths, Soeharto warns

Communists prey on youths, Soeharto warns

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto warned the public,
particularly youths, yesterday that a certain "formless
organization" has been active in spreading communists teachings
in Indonesia.

This group preys on young people, and virtually conducts its
activities "door to door", State Minister of Youth Affairs and
Sports Hayono Isman quoted the President as saying during a
meeting at the latter's Jl. Cendana residence.

Another characteristic of this organization is that it often
exploits human rights issues, justice and democracy in its
preachings, Hayono said, as reported by Antara.

"Youths make easy prey, especially university students who did
not undergo the bitter historical experience of the G30S/PKI.
These youths and students (because of their age) are by nature
attracted to the ideals of justice and democracy," he added.

G30S is the official shorthand for the movement that launched
the abortive coup d'etat on the night of Sept. 30, 1965. The
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), blamed for masterminding the
putsch, was outlawed the following March.

Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung sounded out a similar
warning on Wednesday, saying that remnants of the G30S/PKI have
been active again, spreading communist teachings through various
publications, and seeking to twist history and discredit the New
Order administration of President Soeharto.

Hayono quoted the President as saying that the G30S/PKI
incident must never be forgotten. "Communism may no longer
physically exist, but its teachings and ideas are still alive."

He said a recent statement made by a group of young people
that they supported Lekra, an organization of communist writers
and artists which existed in the 1960s, indicated the extent to
which this "formless organization" has been able to influence the
public.

Dozens of people, mostly young people, signed an open petition
last month expressing support for writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a
former Lekra member, in a debate he was conducting against fellow
writers and artists who accused him of leading the persecution
against writers who rejected communism in the 1960s.

The debate, conducted through the press, was spawned by the
announcement that Pramoedya had been chosen as this year's
recipient of the prestigious Magsaysay Award for Literature. The
writer's wife represented him in Manila last month to collect the
award.

Hayono said that if the youths were motivated to sign the
petition for humanitarian reasons, then this is not a problem.
But if they "unconsciously" help spread communism, this spells
danger.

The "formless organization" conducts its activities in
spreading communist teachings and beliefs, "door to door" or
through limited discussions, he said.

The minister, whose portfolio includes supervising all youth
organizations in the country, said it is the duty of youth groups
to counter the activities of communist supporters.

The "formless organization", he said, is using the "power of
rationalism" in its campaign. The only way to counter this is by
using the same weapon, he said.

"In the past, we relied on the Armed Forces to quash any
movement on which communists were riding. Now that method is no
longer effective. We have to use the power of rationalism and
dialog to face this formless organization," he added.

Hayono also pointed out that this "formless organization" has
been active in disseminating communist teachings and launching
criticisms against the government through pamphlets and the
Internet, the international computer media network.

Its prime objective is to sow divisions within Indonesian
society, such as by exploiting gaps between the wealthy and poor,
or between one region and another, he said.

Hayono reported to the President yesterday about preparations
for the Youth Pledge Day on Oct. 28. On that occasion, President
Soeharto will also launch a new internet computer system, he
said. He did not elaborate. (emb)