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The Indonesian Communist Party and the Conflict in the International Communist Movement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Donald Hindley
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Extract

Until late in 1961, the leaders of the Indonesian Communist Party gave no public indication of the conflict within the international Communist movement. That they were aware of the worsening dispute is evident: for example, from 1958 to 1961, inclusive, they sent an average of five delegations to the Sino-Soviet bloc each year. But they chose to concentrate their energy on strengthening and guiding their own Party. This they had built into the largest Communist Party outside the bloc, with a membership at the end of 1961 of almost two millions, and with a network of mass organisations claiming over ten million members. After the Twenty-second Soviet Party Congress, however, the existence of conflict was public knowledge. D. N. Aidit, the Chairman of the Indonesian Communist Party, who had led his Party's delegation to the congress, felt compelled to explain the Party's position.

Type
Recent Developments
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 19 , September 1964 , pp. 99 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1964

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References

1 Harian Rakjat, 12 15, 1961. The discrepancy between the date of the speech and the date of publication was due to a temporary ban that the army placed on the Party newspaper.Google Scholar

2 The term Aidit leadership refers to the small group of young Communists who won control of the Party in 01 1951. The most eminent are Aidit, M. H. Lukman (first deputy chairman of the Party), Njoto (second deputy chairman), and Sudisman (member of the Politburo and head of the Central Committee's Secretariat).Google Scholar

3 Bintang Merah, 02–03 1956, pp. 50–67, 102–111.Google Scholar

4 See, for example, N., “Stalin 80 Tahun” (“80 Years of Stalin”), Bendera Buruh 12 22, 1959.Google Scholar

5 Harian Rakjat, 12 15, 1961.Google Scholar

6 Ibid. December 16, 1961.

7 Ibid. December 15, 16 and 21, 1961.

8 Ibid. January 11, 1962.

9 Ibid. January 12, 1962.

10 Ibid. December 15, 1961.

11 Ibid. January 2, 1962.

12 Aidit, D. N., Untuk Demokrasi, Persatuan dan Mobilisasi (For Democracy, Unity and Mobilisation) (Jakarta: 1962), pp. 51, 68–75.Google Scholar

13 Harian Rakjat, 11 7, 1962.Google Scholar

14 Ibid. December 4, 1962.

15 Aidit, D. N., Berani, Berani, Sekali Lagi Berani! (Courageous, Courageous and Again Courageous!) (Jakarta: 1963), p. 47. This is the political report presented to the Party Central Committee plenum on 02 10, 1963.Google Scholar

16 Harian Rakjat, 04 27, 1962.Google Scholar

17 Ibid. January 9, 1963.

18 Ibid. January 31, 1963.

19 Loc. cit.Google Scholar

20 Aidit, Berani, pp. 42–52.Google Scholar

21 Information on the exchanges of visits was gleaned from news items in Harian Rakjat. Some visits may have been made that were not reported.Google Scholar

22 Harian Rakjat, 07 20, 1963.Google Scholar

23 Ibid. September 10, 1963.

24 Loc. cit.Google Scholar

25 The term “new emerging forces” was coined by President Sukarno to designate the anti-imperialist forces in the world that are in conflict with the imperialist “old established forces.” The Indonesian Communist Party has declared it would like to see China in possession of nuclear weapons, for this would strengthen the Socialist bloc, strengthen the peace forces in general, and make the imperialists hesitate before unleashing a world war. See Njoto, , “Soal-Soal Nasional dan Internasional” (“National and International Problems”), Bintang Merah, 11 1963, p. 13.Google Scholar

26 Harian Rakjat, 08 10, 1963.Google Scholar

27 Ibid. September 9, 1963.

28 Aidit, D. N., “Gerakan Komunis Internasional dan Revolusi Asia Tenggara” (“The International Communist Movement and the Revolution in South-east Asia”), Harian Rakjat, 10 4 and 5, 1963.Google Scholar

29 On 10 7, 1963, Harian Rakjat corrected this sentence to read: “The living standard of the Korean people is among the highest in the socialist countries. …”Google Scholar

30 Njono, a member of the Politburo of the Indonesian Communist Party, referred to Dange as the chairman of the “Communist Party of India,” using quotation marks. This presumably helps clear the way for the Marxist-Leninists to establish a new party if they are unable to wrest control of the old party apparatus from the Dange group.Google Scholar

31 Sudisman, , “Songsong Kemenangan Sosialisme dengan Optimisme” (“Welcome the Victory of Socialism with Optimism”), Harian Rakjat, 10 29, 1963.Google Scholar

32 Harian Rakjat, 12 5, 1963.Google Scholar

33 Aidit, D. N., “Kobarkan Semangat Banteng! Madju Terus, Pantang Mundur!” (“Ignite the Spirit of the Wild Buffalo! Advance, No Retreat!”). Harian Rakjat, 01 1, 1964.Google Scholar

34 Emphasis added.Google Scholar

35 For an analysis of the development of the Indonesian Communist Party under the control of the Aidit leadership, see Hindley, Donald, The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951–1963, University of California Press, forthcoming.Google Scholar

36 There are about 2·5 million Chinese living in Indonesia. About 1·5 millions are still Chinese citizens and constitute the overwhelming majority of resident aliens.Google Scholar

37 See, for example, Aidit, D. N., Hajo, Ringkus dan Gangjang Kontra-Resolusi! (Come On, Wrestle with and Smash Counter-Revolution!) (Jakarta, 1963), p. 8.Google Scholar

38 One should add, too, that apparently the Indonesian Communist Party receives funds from the Chinese population. In this case it would also be expected to defend this unpopular ethnic group.Google Scholar

39 Aidit, , “Kobarkan,” Harian Rakjat, 01 1, 1964.Google Scholar

40 Aidit, D. N., quoted in Harian Rakjat, 10 1, 1963;Google ScholarSudisman, , “Songsong,” Harian Rakjat, 10 29, 1963.Google Scholar