Don't use democracy to revive communism: Agung
Don't use democracy to revive communism: Agung
JAKARTA (JP): Despite greater political freedom in the
country, the Golkar Party stressed on Monday it would reject any
attempts to revoke a 34-year-old decree which prohibits communism
and Marxism.
The head of Golkar's central board, Agung Laksono, said the
party's position on this matter was nonnegotiable.
"We are consistent in our policy of rejecting demands to
revoke Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree No.
25/1966," he replied when asked by journalists.
The decree, enacted following the 1965 abortive communist
coup, strictly prohibits communist and Marxist teachings in
Indonesia and bans any political party adhering to the
philosophy.
Without being specific, Agung said he had received reports
that several legislators had received proposals calling for the
decree to be revoked.
He conceded that the proposal may have been a result of the
more lax political atmosphere, including releasing political
prisoners who may have been associated with the communist
movement in Indonesia in the past.
The government has said it would welcome Indonesians who have
not been able to return home for decades because of their
suspected support for communist ideology in Indonesia.
Following the abortive coup, a strong phobia of communist
teachings emerged in Indonesia. It was followed by severe
restrictions on various ethnic Chinese activities as it was
suspected that China may have been connected to the attempted
coup.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has eased such restrictions and
last week the government officially revoked a ruling limiting the
practice of Chinese ethnic traditions and culture here.
The fear of communism, however, apparently prevails.
Agung remarked that revoking the decree could open the flood
gates which could revive defunct communist parties.
"We should remain vigilant," he asserted.
Agung further warned that people could also demand that
communist-based parties be allowed to contest the next general
election under the pretext of democracy.
He urged people not to be fooled by arguments of
democratization or respect for human rights as a means of
reviving communism in Indonesia.
"There's no advantage to even considering the decree being
revoked," he asserted. (mds)