Threats to security -- Real versus perceived
Threats to security -- Real versus perceived
By Santi W.E. Soekanto
JAKARTA (JP): This year has been one marked with intensifying
concerns of a possible resurgence of communism and of social
disintegration caused by racial and religious tension.
The curtain opened with government officials' warning that
communism was very much alive in society, and that the outlawed
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) might still have supporters
launching insidious campaign to penetrate various social groups.
Well into the middle of this year, several regions were hit by
racial and religious tensions, which erupted into rioting that
caused extensive damage to some public facilities and forced
people to flee. In yet other regions, reports of human rights
violations, including killings, grabbed nationwide attention and
invited foreign criticism.
The year approaches its end with yet another warning of
communist resurgence and an announcement by the Armed Forces
(ABRI) that the authorities will soon screen legislators alleged
to have past communist links.
Controversies on communism resurgence began late last year
with reports that an official of the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI), Djajang Kurniadi, had past communist links. Without
bothering to wait until the authorities came with follow-up
reports or actions, some elements in the party used the momentum
to demonstrate against chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and
demanded her resignation.
The issue snowballed.
It did not subside with the release in August of former deputy
prime minister Soebandrio, former Air Force commander Omar Dhani
and former police intelligence chief Soetarto, all directly
involved in the 1965 aborted coup attempt blamed on the PKI.
Instead, their release provided an interesting tableaux for
the nation's sentiment on communism. Along with a great sense of
foreboding, people could detect a spreading "compassion" when, in
connection with Indonesia's 50th anniversary celebrations,
President Soeharto extended clemency to the three men mentioned
above on humanitarian grounds.
"It's time to forgive and forget," some people said.
This did not mean that ABRI was slackening its guard.
Assistant to ABRI's chief for social and political affairs,
Maj. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, stressed that certain measures, such as
the elimination of eks tapol (former political prisoner) stamped
on the identity cards of people convicted of political offenses,
should not be interpreted as an indication "that we have forgiven
them for what they did".
"We simply believe that the direct danger (of communism) may
have somewhat diminished," Syarwan said.
The issue of communism threats resurfaced in October when
President Soeharto warned that certain "formless" organizations
have been propagating communist teachings in the guise of concern
for human rights and democracy, preying on young people in
particular.
Government officials and ABRI leaders followed the President's
warning with one of their own, telling the public that remnants
of the PKI and its supporters have become active again.
It was during the controversy over the dangers of communism
that the public was introduced to various expressions like OTB,
an Indonesian expression for "formless organizations", "night
communists", "daylight communists" and "new-style communism".
"Communism is very much alive in Indonesia and is supported by
former members of the PKI," according to Syarwan. "It has
undergone a metamorphosis."
On another occasion, Syarwan said that even ABRI, with its
tight security system, can be penetrated by communist elements.
One indication of the communist's insidious campaign,
according to the authorities, are the efforts by former PKI
members to cleanse themselves through their memoirs.
The government has banned such memoirs, including those of Oei
Tjoe Tat, one of the cabinet members under Sukarno rounded up by
the military when Sukarno's government was dissolved in 1966. Oei
was tried and convicted by a court of law for playing a role in
the abortive coup. He was released in December 1977.
Despite what some critics said, the military and civil
authorities were not engaged in wild goose chases.
Vice governor of the military's think tank, the Institute of
National Resilience, Juwono Sudarsono, said the authorities were
"honestly worried about the threats" of communism.
ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono went so far as
to identify author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, scholar George Junus
Aditjondro and labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan as being among the
people behind a number of provocations that the military had
blamed on "formless organizations".
The gong on the communism issue, however, was struck last week
by Army Chief Gen. Hartono, who announced the plan to rescreen 50
legislators, who were already been vetted when they were
nominated to the legislature, alleged to have past communist
links.
Screening for links with communism are routinely carried out
on members of the legislature, the higher echelons of the
executive, as well as on officials in strategic industries and
sectors.
Along with the threat of communism came concerns on
disintegration in society, which were propelled by a number of
racial and religiously-charged riots in several parts of the
country.
Both military and civil authorities repeatedly warned the
public that social problems generated from ethnic, religious and
inter-group conflicts are becoming a real threat to the nation's
unity.
It was Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret) Edi
Sudradjat who brought the awareness of potentially polarizing
social issues to a new height when he spoke of social envy caused
by bankers' favoritism of wealthy ethnic Chinese businessmen in
issuance of credit.
For a country of 196 million people, where some 25 million are
still living in abject poverty and the gulf between the rich and
the poor widening, the dominant role of ethnic Chinese
entrepreneurs in the economy is increasingly becoming a sensitive
spot. Especially when the issue was combined with religious
sentiment.
A number of riots that took place in Central Java and West
Java were the proof. Moslems in Pekalongan, Central Java, rioted
in November, vandalizing shops and burning cars belonging to
ethnic Chinese. The incidents were triggered by a report of a
Chinese man, who was reported to be mentally ill, tearing up a
Koran.
In Purwakarta, West Java, residents vandalized and picketed a
supermarket belonging to a Chinese couple in October. The tension
was triggered by the report of a young Moslem girl, accused of
shoplifting, being mistreated by the couple and their employers.
It took some time before the city calmed down.
In September, several riots took place in at least two
regencies in the predominantly Roman Catholic East Timor. The
riots were triggered by a Moslem official's denigrating remarks
about Catholicism.
Two people were killed and 12 people were injured in the
incidents. Some 120 people were detained for questioning. A
number of school buildings, a market and other public facilities
were damaged and hundreds of Moslem migrants fled the region.
Violent rioting also occurred elsewhere, triggered by various
causes, including labor disputes, environmental concern, and
mistreatment of local people by ABRI.
One of the riots occurred in Dairi, North Sumatra when
approximately 1,000 residents attacked a plantation company,
leaving one person dead. Another occurred in Pasuruan, East Java
last month, when thousands of residents vandalized a South
Korean-owned food seasoning factory for allegedly polluting the
river.
This year also saw a number of attempts by some anti-
integration East Timorese youth groups to seek asylum at foreign
embassies here, citing persecution by the military.
More than 120 youths, on separate occasions, climbed into the
embassies of Japan, Britain, Russia and the Netherlands demanding
that they be flown to those countries.
The youths were invariably helped by the Indonesian office of
the International Committee of the Red Cross to fly to Portugal,
the only country willing to receive them.
Both military and civil officials claimed that the youths
campaign was groundless, that they were not persecuted, and that
they were only seeking free tickets to go abroad.
This year, Indonesia became a target of both domestic and
foreign criticism for its human rights record. Two of the most
significant cases of rights violations were the killings of 16
civilians in the Timika regency by the military in Irian Jaya,
and of six civilians in Liquisa regency in East Timor.
The first case occurred between Oct. 1994 and June 1995 and
was said to have taken place in the operation areas of the
American giant gold and copper mining company Freeport.
The other case took place in January. In this highly-
scrutinized case, the military in East Timor insisted that the
six people killed were supporters of rebel East Timor Fretilin
and that they were all killed during an armed conflict. A number
of East Timorese, however, say the six killed were unarmed
farmers.
Other security problems occurring include the recent uprising
of the secessionist Free Papua Movement in Irian Jaya. At least
two people were killed during armed clashes between the rebels
and troops, while a score of other people were taken hostage.
However, the hectic condition served as a backdrop for the
smooth regeneration within ABRI; younger generals are now holding
top positions. Earlier this year ABRI witnessed Gen. R. Hartono,
Lt. Gen. Soeyono and Lt. Gen. M. Ma'ruf inducted as the new Army
Chief, the new ABRI chief for general affairs, and new ABRI chief
for social and political affairs respectively.
One of the most notable transfers was that of Brig. Gen.
Prabowo Subianto, who replaced Maj. Gen. Subagyo HS as commander
of the special force Kopassus. Prabowo is a son-in-law of
President Soeharto.
This year approaches its end with a historical pact, which
will hopefully lessen the worry of not only ABRI, but that of the
nation in general. On Dec. 18, Indonesia and Australia signed a
security agreement requiring both sides to undertake ministerial
consultations on common security matters.
The agreement also requires that both sides consider the
possibility of joint measures in the event of adverse challenges
to either party, or to their common security interests.
"This agreement should dispel any fears Australians may have
toward Indonesia," President Soeharto said of the accord.
Window A: "Communism is very much alive in Indonesia and is
supported by former members of the PKI," according to Maj. Gen.
Syarwan. "It has undergone a metamorphosis."
Window B: Military and civil authorities repeatedly warned the
public that social problems generated from ethnic, religious and
inter-group conflicts are becoming a real threat to the nation's unity.