'No PKI remnants in Russia'

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian ambassador to Moscow Rachmat Witoelar said yesterday there were no longer elements of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in Russia.

"There are no PKI remnants as far as I know. There are only former Indonesian students who remain stateless," Rachmat told reporters after meeting President Soeharto.

The PKI was outlawed in 1966, after being accused of masterminding a coup attempt against former president Sukarno in 1965.

Rachmat said that most PKI members had fled to other European countries such as the Netherlands and Germany.

"Even the stateless people, five or six of them, are not doing anything," Rachmat said, adding that there were strict rules on the cancellation of Indonesian citizenships.

He said it was virtually impossible for those who had had their citizenships canceled to return to Indonesia because immigration rules were so strict.

"There is no mercy for those who are opposed to the New Order government (under President Soeharto)," he said.

According to Rachmat, communism in Russia is now a thing of the past, a laughable idea for Russian youths.

On trade, Rachmat said it was a shame that Indonesian businesspeople were less aggressive in Russia than their Vietnamese or Malaysian counterparts who were successful there.

"Indonesian businesses think that Russia is still unsafe for business," he said.

Rachmat said Indonesia's exports to Russia are worth US$300 million a year compared to Vietnam's exports which are worth $500 million a year, mainly in rice, vegetables and seafood.

"My wife can even buy tempe (fermented soybean cake) and tahu (soybean curd) at a Vietnamese grocery store there," Rachmat said. (14)