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.