Prabowo Says Foreign Powers Funded Rebellions, from RMS to PRRI

President Prabowo Subianto said a number of rebellions in the past had often been subject to foreign intervention. He made the remarks while chairing a plenary Cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Wednesday afternoon (21 October).

“Great nations always intervene, always disrupt us, always incite division, always finance rebellions and unrest, and set us against one another,” Prabowo told members of the Red and White Cabinet.

Prabowo then cited several movements or rebellions that caused unrest or pursued a divide-and-rule policy, including Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII), the Ratu Adil Armed Forces (APRA), the Republic of South Maluku (RMS), the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI)/Universal Struggle (Permesta), and the 1948 Rebellion.

Nevertheless, Prabowo said the Indonesian people remained strong and possessed national resilience. He said that in 1997 and 1998 many had predicted Indonesia would break apart before long, but those predictions had proved wrong.

“Our people are becoming wiser, and in the end our leaders will safeguard unity,” he added.

Given what he described as the strength of foreign interference, Prabowo said he had ultimately pursued a politics of unity.

“Let us set aside our differences; let us unite for the greater interest of the people of Indonesia, so that they can live in prosperity,” he urged.

This is not the first time Prabowo has accused foreign parties of being behind unrest or rebellions.

Prabowo and his supporters have often accused foreign actors of intervening and funding demonstrations during the first two years of his administration.