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)