Indonesia’s bid to probe anti-communist massacres 50 years ago sparks backlash
Observers believe the military is whipping up the spectre of a communist threat as their role in the 1965-66 killings comes under scrutiny
Indonesian activist Adlun Fiqri could be jailed for wearing a T-shirt allegedly bearing a leftist logo, one of many caught up in a backlash against efforts to shine a light on military-backed, anti-communist massacres half a century ago.
Police and the military have in recent weeks rounded up people for allegedly spreading communism – which remains outlawed in Indonesia – through logos on T-shirts.
They have also seized books about communism and stopped a film screening that touched on the subject.
It came after the government last month took timid steps towards making peace with one of the nation’s darkest chapters – the killing of at least 500,000 people in anti-communist massacres in 1965-66, conducted by local groups with military support.
The killings began after General Suharto put down a coup attempt blamed on communists. He rose to power on the back of the bloodshed, and went on to lead Indonesia with an iron fist for three decades.
During his rule, the massacres were presented as necessary to rid the country of communism – Indonesia had the world’s third-biggest communist party before the killings.