Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri has called for nationwide soul-searching, especially by examining what really transpired during the 1965 anticommunist purge.

Speaking at an event organized by the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) on Thursday, Megawati, who was the country'€™s fifth president, emphasized the crucial need for people to view critically what she described as '€œa painful chapter in the country'€™s history'€.

'€œI am a living witness of the 1965 [purge]. This country went through psychological turmoil because we were influenced by what happened,'€ Megawati said.

Furthermore, the country had yet to recover, she went on, from the trauma caused by the events.

'€œThe incident left a scar on the heart of the people. But we have the choice to fix the past and set the country back on track. ['€¦] I choose to face the future and repair the past,'€ she said.

Megawati did not elaborate, but encouraged her audience to ponder '€œwhat really happened in 1965'€.

The former president was invited as the sole speaker at the lecture, which was arranged as part of a series of events to celebrate Lemhanas'€™ 50th anniversary.

In addition to her reflection on the events of 1965, Megawati also touched on a range of topics from traditional Padang cuisine to the chaotic political situation ahead of the local elections set for Dec. 9.

'€œI am confused by the discussions on local elections '€” we seem to be unprepared,'€ she said.

Megawati also shared her thoughts on the need for Indonesian students to receive education in Eastern European countries, such as Russia, instead of Western nations, especially the United States.

Regarding Lemhanas, Megawati called on the institution to be more open to the public, particularly to younger people from various backgrounds of expertise.

'€œLemhanas can be a guiding star in the effort to chart the course of the country, because most people in the country have no clue about where the country is heading. Many are asking whether we are heading toward liberalism or socialism,'€ she said.

Lemhanas could step in to provide assistance in setting the course, Megawati said.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) declared on Monday that the systematic prosecution of alleged members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) after the failed 1965 coup was a gross human rights violation. The commission urged that military officials involved in the purge be brought to trial.

The purge paved the way for the military to seize power from then president Sukarno, Megawati'€™s father.

Sukarno died five years after the purge, having been placed under house arrest by his successor, Soeharto.

Popular

Govt eyes September for mass relocation of civil servants to Nusantara

Govt claims 'mudik' 2024 traffic management a success

Public hopes swell ahead of election dispute ruling