On PKI

On PKI

The (defunct) Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has become a serious issue at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly. There are two groups with different opinions on the banned party.

The first group consists of people who are against Provisional Assembly Decree No. XXV/1966 on the dissolution of the PKI and the ban of Marxism, communism and Leninism. The other group wants the decree to be retained and, if possible, passed into law.

The antagonistic perceptions popped up during Saturday's session. Unlike other factions in the Assembly, the largest faction in the body, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), failed to make clear its stance on the issue. However, several party officials expressed their wish that the decree be annulled.

We have no idea what the PDI Perjuangan really wants. The impression that several of its leaders want the decree to be withdrawn is also puzzling. This could be a politically motivated move to attract voters ahead of the 2004 elections, or merely a emotional or historical move.

The decree was issued by Soeharto's administration to cut the influence of former president Sukarno, the father of current President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

As far as we know, the main reason for the proposal to revoke the decree is humanitarian. We do not wish to see collective punishment handed down to those who had no direct links with the PKI. It is not fair that the children, grandchildren and relatives of those involved in the PKI must suffer from discrimination.

However, repealing the decree is not the right decision. The PKI was responsible for some of the worst moments in the country's history. The first was the notorious Madiun incident in 1948 and the second was the abortive coup in 1965.

-- Republika, Jakarta