Propaganda and the Genocide in Indonesia: Imagined Evil

229 Pages·2019·4.1 MB·English

by  Saskia E. Wieringa

Propaganda and the Genocide
in Indonesia
In Indonesia, the events of 1 October 1965 were followed by a campaign to
annihilate the Communist Party and its alleged sympathizers. It resulted in
the murder of an estimated one million people – a genocide that counts as
one of the largest mass murders since WWII – and the incarceration of
another million, many of them for a decade or more without any legal pro-
cess. This purge was justified and enabled by a propaganda campaign in
which communistswere painted as atheist, hypersexual, amoral and intent on
destroying the nation. To this day the effects of this campaign continue to be
felt, and its victims aredenied the right of association and freedomof speech.
This book presents the history of the genocide and propaganda campaign
and the process that led to the establishment of the International People’s
Tribunal on 1965 Crimes against Humanity Indonesia (IPT 1965), which was
held in November 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands. The authors, a Dutch
academic and an Indonesian human rights lawyer, examine this unique event,
which brought these crimes before an international court for the first time,
and they consider its verdict. They single out the campaign of hate propa-
ganda that provided the incitement for the murder of so many Indonesians
and ask why this propaganda campaign continues to be effective. The first
book on this topic, it fills a significant gap in Asian Studies and Genocide
Studies.
Saskia E. Wieringa is a professor at the University of Amsterdam, Nether-
lands,and theChairoftheFoundationIPT1965 which establishedaPeople’s
Tribunal on the post-1965 crimes against humanity perpetrated in Indonesia.
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana is a human rights lawyer and the national coor-
dinator for the Indonesian Women’s Association of Justice. She was pre-
viously the Director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, Indonesia and is
presently the chair of its Board, She is the general coordinator of the
Foundation IPT 1965.
Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series
The aim of this series is to publish original, high-quality work by both new
and established scholars on all aspects of Southeast Asia.
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Budi Hernawan
Family and Population Changes in Singapore
Aunique case in the global family change
Edited by Wei-Jun Jean Yeung and Shu Hu
Islamic Education in Indonesia and Malaysia
Shaping Minds, Saving Souls
Azmil Tayeb
Islam, State and Society in Indonesia
Local Politics in Madura
Yanwar Pribadi
The Appeal of the Philippines
Spain, Cultural Representation and Politics
José Miguel Díaz Rodríguez
Propaganda and the Genocide in Indonesia
Imagined Evil
Saskia E. Wieringa with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana
For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.
com/Routledge-Contemporary-Southeast-Asia-Series/book-series/RCSEA
Propaganda and the Genocide
in Indonesia
Imagined Evil
Saskia E. Wieringa and
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana
Firstpublished2019
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Contents
Glossary and list of abbreviations and acronyms vi
Acknowledgements xii
Preface xiii
1 Propaganda in Indonesian history: Introducing the theme 1
2 Unanswered questions about the G30S 21
3 The International People’s Tribunal on the 1965 Crimes against
Humanity in Indonesia 40
4 The nation betrayed: History revisited 60
5 Rural unrest, religion, culture and the Pancasila 80
6 Women’s degradation and homophobia: Two sexual moral panics 101
7 The complicity of the middle class 122
8 Transitional justice and memory work 145
9 New Style Communism? 168
References 187
Index 203
Glossary and list of abbreviations and
acronyms
30 September Movement On the night of 30 September 1965, a small group
of army officers with support from some PKI leaders launched an assas-
sination attack against the top six army generals and one lieutenant was
also killed
Abangan Nominal Muslim, Java (literally, red)
AJAR Asian Justice and Rights
AJI Aliansi Jurnalis Independen; Alliance of Independent Journalists
Aksi sepihak One-sided or unilateral action (often just referred to as aksi)
Aliran Social-cultural stream
amicus curiae Latin for ‘friend of the court’
Ansor Youth movement of the Nahdlatul Ulema (NU – Council of
Islamic Scholars)
APIK Asosiasi Perempuan untuk Keadilan Indonesia; Indonesian Women’s
Association for Justice
Babinsa officers Bintara Pembina Desa non-commissioned village
guidance officers
Bakorstanas Badan Koordinasi Stabilitas Nasional; Coordinating Body of
National Stability
Balatkom Bahaya Laten Komunis; latent communist danger
Banser Barisan Ansor Serba Guna; Ansor Multi-purpose Brigade
Baperki Badan Permusjawaratan Kewarganegaraan Indonesia; Indonesian
Citizenship Consultative Body for Indonesian citizens of Chinese
ethnic origin
BTI Barisan Tani Indonesia; Indonesian Farmers’ Union
Buterpra Bintara Urusan Teritorial Pertahanan Rakyat; non-commissioned
officers in Territorial and People’s Defence
CAH Crimes against humanity
CGMI Concentrasi Gerakan Mahasiswa Indonesia; Concentration of
Indonesian Students Organizations
CIA Central Intelligence Agency (US)
CSIS Center for Strategic and International Studies
Dalang Puppet master
Glossary and list of abbreviations and acronyms vii
DI Darul Islam; House of Islam. Its armed wing was the Tentara Islam
Indonesia (TII), the Indonesian Muslim Army
DPR Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat; People’s Representative Council
DPRD-GR Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Gorong Royong; Collaborative
People’s Representative Council, from June 1960–November 1965
Dwifungsi Double task
Dwikora Dwi Komando Rakyat; People’s Double Command
ELSAM Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyarakat; Institute for Policy
Research and Advocacy
ET ex-Tapol; former political prisoner
Events of 1965–66 Translation of Peristiwa 65–66, referring to the killing of
the generals on the night of 30 September 1965, and the killings which
followed during 1965–66
FBR Forum Betawi Rempug; Betawi Brotherhood Forum
FDR Front Demokrasi Rakyat; People’s Democratic Front
FPI Front Pembela Islam; Muslim Defenders’ Front
FRETILIN Frente Revolucionária de Timor Leste Independente;
Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
G30S Abbreviation of Gerakan Tiga Puluh September; 30 September
Movement
Gerindom Gerakan Indonesia Merdeka; Indonesian Freedom Movement
Gerwani Gerakan Wanita Indonesia; Indonesian Women’s Movement
Gerwis Gerakan Wanita Indonesia Sedar; Indonesian Conscious
Women’s Organization
Gestapu Gerekan September Tigapuluh; another term for the 30 September
Movement
Gestok Gerakan Satu Oktober; October 1 Movement
GKS Gereja Kristen Sumba; Christian Church of Sumba
Golkar Golongan Karya; Functional Groups. The dominant party of the
New Order
Hadji A Muslim who has completed the pilgrimage (haj) to Mecca
Hanra Pertahanan Rakyat; People’s Defence
Hansip Pertahanan Sipil; Civil Defence
HMI Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam; Association of Muslim Students
HRC Human Rights Council
HSI Himpunan Sarjana Indonesia; Association of Indonesian Scholars
HTI Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia; Indonesian Partyof Libaration
Ibu Mother, Mrs
ICC International Criminal Court
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICTR International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
ICTY International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
IKOHI Ikatan Keluarga Orang Hilang Indonesia; the Indonesian
Association of the Families of the Disappeared
ILC International Law Commission
viii Glossary and list of abbreviations and acronyms
Inrehab Instalasi Rehabilitasi; Rehabilitation Installation or Centre
Intel Intelligence
IPKI Ikatan Pendukung Kemerdekaan Indonesia; Union of Supporters of
Indonesian Freedom
IPPI Ikatan Pemuda Pelajar Indonesia; Indonesian Students’ Youth
Association
IPT 1965 International People’s Tribunal on the 1965 Crimes against
Humanity
ISDV Indische Sociaal Democratische Beweging; Indian Social Democratic
Movement
ISSI Institut Studi Sejarah Indonesia; Institute for the Study of Indonesian
History
ITB Bandung Institut TeknologiBandung;BandungInstitute of Technology
JAI Jamaah Ansar al-Tawhid; Community Allies of the Oneness of God
Jaksa Agung Attorney-General
JI Jamaah Islamiyah; Islamic Community
Jo Abbreviation of the Latin word juncto (in conjunction with)
JPIT Jaringan Perempuan Indonesia Timur untuk Studi Perempuan,
Agama, dan Budaya; Eastern Indonesia Women’s Network for the Study
of Women, Religion, and Culture
jus cogens Latin for ‘compelling law’, peremptory law with no derogation
permitted
KAMI Kesatuan Aksi Mahasiswa Indonesia; Indonesian Students Action
Front
KAP Gestapu Komando Aksi Pengganyangan Gerakan September
Tigapuluh; Action Command to Crush Gestapu
Kasebul Kaderisasi sebulan, one-month training course
KASI Kesatuan Aksi Sarjana Indonesia; Indonesian Scholars Action Front
KAWI KesatuanAksiWanitaIndonesia;IndonesianWomen’sActionFront
KAPPI Kesatuan Aksi Pemuda Pelajar Indonesia; Indonesian Youth and
High School Students Action Front
Kejawen Mix of Javanese religion with Hinduism and Islam
Ketoprak Traditional popular art form in Java
KKPK Koalisi Keadilan dan Pengungkapan Kebenaran; Coalition for
Justice and the Revelation of Truth
Kodam Komando Daerah Militer; Regional Military Command
Kodiklat Komando Pembina Doktrin, Pendidikan dan Latihan Tentara
Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat, Guidance Command on the doc-
trine, education and training of the army, the main army training centre,
which used to be called Seskoad, in Bandung
Kodim Komando Distrik Militer; District Military Command
Kokam Komando Kesiapsiagaan Angkatan Muda; Resilience Command of
the Muhammadyah Youth
Komando Aksi Action Command
Glossary and list of abbreviations and acronyms ix
Komnas HAM Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia; Indonesian National
Human Rights Commission, often referred to as the Commission
Komnas Perempuan Komisi Nasional Anti Kekerasan Terhadap Perempuan;
Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women
Kontras Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan;
Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence
Kopkamtib Komando Operasi Pemulihan Keamanan dan Ketertiban;
Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order
Kostrad Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat; Army Strategic
Reserve Command
KOTI Komando Operasi Tertinggi; Supreme Operations Command
Koter Komando Territorial; territorial command structure of the army
KPI Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia; Indonesian Broadcasting Commission
Kyai A learned expert in Islam; leaders of pesantren, Islamic boarding
schools
Laksusda Pelaksana Khusus Daerah; Special Territorial Administrator
Lasykar Irregular fighting units, based on regional, ideological or religious
ties
LBH Lembaga Bantuan Hukum; Legal Aid Institute
Lekra Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat; Institute of People's Culture
Lemhanas Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional; National Resilience Institute
LGBTIQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer
LPSK Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban; Institute for the Protection
of Witnesses and Victims, set up on 8 August 2008
Lubang Buaya Crocodile Hole, the name of a neighbourhood near Halim
Airforce Base on the outskirts of Jakarta
Ludruk Popular traditional art form in Java
Mahmillub MahkamahMiliterLuarBiasa;ExtraordinaryMilitaryTribunal
Manipol Manifesto Politik; Political Manifesto
Masyumi Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia; Consultative Council of
Indonesian Muslims
MPR Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat; People’s Representative Assembly
MPRS Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat Sementara; Temporary People’s
Consultative Assembly
Nasakom Nasionalisme, Agama, Komunisme; Nationalism, Religion,
Communism
New Order The name President Suharto gave to his regime after displacing
Sukarno in 1966
NII Negara Islam Indonesia; Indonesian Muslim State, declared in 1949 by
Kartosuwiryo, during the Darul Islam rebellion
Niqaab Full-face veil
NU Nahdlatul Ulema; Council of Islamic Scholars
Opsus Operasi Khusus; Special Operations
P4 Pedoman Penghayatan dan Pengamalan Pancasila; Guide to the
Comprehension and Sincere Implementation of the Pancasila