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withdrawn is also puzzling.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