Manai proud of his controversial book on Sukarno

Manai proud of his controversial book on Sukarno

JAKARTA (JP): Manai Sophiaan is undeterred by the storms of
controversy over his newly published book which tries to prove
that the late president Sukarno was not involved in the 1965
communist coup.

Manai, still looking vital despite his 80 years, insisted
yesterday that the Kehormatan Bagi yang Berhak (Honor for the One
Who Deserves It) was well researched.

"I supported it with numerous authentic documents and
interviews with figures who made the history," he told
journalists in at his residence in the South Jakarta suburb of
Cilandak.

The 330-page book was launched on Sept. 7 to coincide with his
80th birthday. The first 3,000 copies have been sold out and he
is now considering a second edition due to the rising number of
orders.

The book gives details relating to the 1965 coup attempt which
are not in line with the official version of what happened. It
was launched ahead of the government's publication of the "white
book" on the disputed event, which is expected soon.

The book, which is not available in bookstores or on the
streets, has triggered speculation and debate in the local mass
media. Manai's allegation that student demonstrations to topple
Sukarno were paid for by the CIA has plunged him into hot water.
Some of the demonstrators plan to sue him for libel.

Claiming he is close to Sukarno ideologically rather than
personally, Manai said he wrote the book out of concern that many
people nowadays paint a gloomy picture about the man who
proclaimed Indonesia's independence in 1945.

"They let Bung Karno die at his house prison and he has been
portrayed unfairly as pro-communist," said the former ambassador
to Moscow during the Sukarno administration.

Manai was one-time secretary-general of the powerful
Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI) founded by Sukarno. The party
merged with Christian forces into the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) in 1973.

Critics say that Manai twists historical facts to fit his
theories that Sukarno was not behind the coup simply because he
admires the former president.

Stripped of power

For example, they question why Sukarno refused to liquidate
the PKI for its role in the coup attempt that claimed the lives
of six generals on the night of Sept. 30, 1965.

Manai argued that Sukarno was stripped of power by the then
Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS) before the
president could deal with the communist party.

Manai backed his argument with the fact that Sukarno chose to
spend the rest of his life at home instead of living in exile
like other deposed leaders, such as Ferdinand Marcos of the
Philippines.

Moscow and Beijing, which Jakarta suspected of being involved
in the coup, condemned the PKI leaders and called them political
adventurers, he said.

He also revealed the involvement of the CIA in the campaigns
to topple Sukarno by hiring youths to demonstrate and providing
arms to separatist rebels.

"The Americans wanted to see Indonesia divided because its
leaders were considered inexperienced in running a vast territory
and therefore vulnerable to communist infiltration," he recalled.

Manai said there had been no input from government officials
for the book which he said has been made available to numerous
individuals here and to major libraries in the U.S. and
Australia.

The Attorney General's Office, which has the authority to ban
books, usually waits until a book has been circulated first
before taking any action.

Manai said he had no intention of having his book published by
an enterprise, not because of fears of a possible ban, but
because he did not want anyone to edit and sell the volumes at
higher prices. "I want to print and sell them myself, so that the
books can reach the public without a third party's intervention,"
he said. (pan)