Bagus Kurniawan/HD & HY, Yogyakarta – Eleven people from the Yogyakarta branch of the Anti Communist Piety Society Forum (Format) have declared war on Communism. They staged a demonstration at the Yogyakarta police headquarters (Mapoltabes). They also planned to move to the Yogyakarta provincial legislative council (DPRD) A demonstration was held at the Mapoltabes, Jl Reksobayan, Yogyakarta, Monday.
They included people form the Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children (FKPPI), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Justice Party (PK), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), Ka'bah Youth Movement and Muhammadiya Youth.
In addition, several other groups also attended, such as the Mosque's Teenagers Friendship Forum, the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI), the Defence of Golkar Party's Honour Network, the Anti Communist Youth Action Union, Panca Marga Youth and the Anti-Communist Defence Movement (Gepako).
In their action, they displayed several banners and posters which read "Gepako Ready for Sweeping of PRD and Yogyakarta Working Group [an element under the PRD, Ed]", "Let's hunt Communism together"; "The PRD [People's Democratic Party] and PRY are the Real People's Enemy" and "Defend the Assembly's decree No. XXV/1966 to the last drop of blood".
In a closed door meeting with the head of Yogyakarta police Commissioner Police Drs. Ibnu Sudjak, a co-ordinator of Format, Muhammad Jazir ASP demanded Ibnu Sudja prosecute Dwi Bambang Sucipto for being the chairman of the New Indonesian Communist Party (PKBI) which was established in Yogyakarta several days ago.
At present, Bambang has been detained at Yogyakarta police for owning a weapon. In this case, they support the police charging him. Acceding to Jazir, the declaration of PKBI showed an intention of insurgency, so Format demanded the Yogya police or National police (Polri) take legal steps to deal with this.
Aside from that, Format strongly believes that with the Assembly's Decree No. XXV/1996 covering the ban of Communism, Marxism and Leninism, the ban on Communism must remain. "We hope the Polri can take concrete steps so as not to lose the public's trust and prevent such mobs.
Communism has long been taboo in Indonesia, following the abortive coup attempt of 1965, blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). In the wake of the botched coup, up to half a million PKI members, alleged supporters and sympathisers were killed. Many of the killings were reportedly conducted by NU members, as the Islamic organisation was staunchly anti-Communist.
Throughout the Soeharto regime, many of the nation's problems were blamed on the outlawed PKI. Analysts say that in its final years, the regime found a new "scapegoat", the left-wing PRD, which was also banned.
At time of reporting, around fifty demonstrators from Format started to move to the Yogyakarta Legislative Council located on Jl Malioboro, Yogyakarta.