Remedying distorted mind-set

Congratulations on the fine article Lifting ban on communism is belated thinking by Soedjati Djiwandono (The Jakarta Post, March 29, 2000). I would like to congratulate Mr. Djiwandono also for his concise but nevertheless accurate narrative of events around the 1965 Gestapu, allegedly masterminded and staged by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

I am not a communist and I believe that the communist system will not work in any country, including Indonesia. Yet, I am convinced that the alleged atrocities toward the abducted generals by the Indonesian Women Movement (Gerwani), did not really happen. The story must have been launched by the scheming, real dalang (mastermind) of the coup d'etat, by way of a military news daily. At the time, the movie (so called documentary) Janur Kuning was shown over and over again, inflaming anti (PKI) feelings. We all know the results: mass killings.

In my opinion, Mr. Djiwandono's article should be published in all, especially Indonesian, websites and the Indonesian version should be published in all Indonesian papers. I even suggest that the article be issued as a statement of some kind by the Indonesian government. It should be a good start for remedying the somewhat distorted mind-set of many Indonesians concerning the Gestapu and the PKI's role in it.

DJOKO SOEJOTO

Bandung