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Protestors warn of rising threat of communist ideology
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Protesters from mass organizations including the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), Islam Defender Troops (LPI) and the Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children (FKPPI) gather in front of the State Palace on Friday to protest what they claim to be a revival of the defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). (JP/Viriya Paramita Singgih)
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etired military generals and members of several mass organizations claim to have evidence of a rising communist movement in Indonesia and have warned the public of possible threats from the banned ideology.
At least 10,000 protesters rallied on Friday outside the State Palace and the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister in Central Jakarta, representing groups such as the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), Islam Defender Troops (LPI) and the Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children (FKPPI), along with several retired Army generals.
“We have to defend Pancasila as our national ideology from the threats of the Indonesian Communist Party [PKI] and other ideologies!” retired Army general Kiki Syahnakri shouted at the rally.
The protesters claimed that the defunct PKI planned to proclaim its existence in Indonesia and urged people to stand up and fight against the supposed movement. They also blamed foreigners for having a bad influence on society.
The rally followed a two-day symposium entitled “Protecting Pancasila from the Threat of the Indonesian Communist Party and Other Ideologies”, held on Wednesday and Thursday at Balai Kartini in South Jakarta.
The event, attended by hundreds of retired military generals, aimed to challenge the earlier National Symposium on the 1965 Tragedy that brought together victims, families, human rights activists, academics and state officials to find a resolution to the 1965 communist purge that remains part of the country's dark past.
Several people met with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan and Indonesian Military chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo during the protest to convey their demands.
The participants of the anticommunist rally demanded the government include their recommendations in a settlement for victims of the 1965 massacre.
"Don't just take input from [those who] agree with PKI ideology; the government must also accommodate the symposium held at Balai Kartini," said FPI leader Muhammad Rizieq Shihab.
The rally began after Friday prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta, with protesters marching to the National Monument (Monas) and then the State Palace.
Human rights activists and members of the public have recently cited several instances of discussions and events on the 1965 mass killings being disrupted, as well as raids on certain books and even T-shirts, amid claims from retired Army generals and hard-liners of the revival of communism in the country. (vps/rin)
