Govt told to change policy on ex-PKI cadres
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Constitutional Court's decision to reinstate the constitutional rights of former communist members and their families members has sparked calls for an end to all discrimination against them.
"It is high time for us to eliminate all forms of discrimination against former members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and their family members," historian Aswi Marwan Adam of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said on Wednesday.
Aswi was particularly referring to the right to work in government institutions and the Indonesian military (TNI).
Payung Salenda, a former communist member who was exiled for 10 years on Buru Island, welcomed the court decision but called for an end to all forms of discrimination.
"I welcome the ruling but the government must put an end to all discrimination we experience in our life. Only then will our country be able to reconcile," Payung said.
Payung, 79, complained that his identification (ID) card still bore mark E.T., which stands for ex tapol, meaning a former political detainee implicated in the 1965 abortive coup.
The government had in fact scrapped the code from ID cards in 1995 but, according to Payung, a father of four, district officers refused to remove the E.T. code from his ID card.
"I am also denied a lifetime ID card although I am already 79," he said, referring to the ID card granted to citizens above 60 years of age.
The former staff member of the office of the prime minister's office was dismissed in 1969 and exiled for 10 years without trial.
Until 1995, ID cards of his wife and his four children also bore certain codes indicating their relationship with a former PKI member.
"I could not get a job after I served time. My children had no guts to dream of becoming civil servants or military members," said Payung, who opened a kiosk to make ends meet.
Ribka Tjiptaning Proletariyati, a daughter of a former PKI member, said the government still discriminated against her.
"I couldn't set up a clinic of my own simply because I am a daughter of a PKI member," said Ribka, known for her controversial book titled Aku Bangga Sebagai Anak PKI (I'm proud to be a daughter of PKI).
The newly established Constitutional Court issued a historic verdict allowing former PKI members to contest in the legislative election on Tuesday, more than three decades after their constitutional rights were removed.
Historian Aswi said on Wednesday the government must be able to follow up the "symbolic message" from the Constitutional Court.
"This is the right time for the government to eliminate all discriminatory rulings against former PKI members and their families," he said.
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto also acknowledged the decision, but expressed the hope that former PKI members would no longer spread communism in the country.
"I'm also surprised (by the ruling) but it's already done. So let's hope that they will not spread (communism)," Endriartono told a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission I for foreign, security and political affairs on Wednesday.
Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Hasyim Muzadi expressed a similar view, saying every citizen should have equal rights.
"The Sept. 30, 1965 incident is already a part of history, and it's time for us to forgive one another. The restoration of former PKI members' rights will not be a threat to our country," said Hasyim.