Rendra Saputra, R. Jihad Akbar – Army chief of staff (Kasad) General Gatot Nurmantyo says that communist ideas are continuing to grow in the fatherland. This, he said, is because Indonesia is going through a period of development that creates space for the spread of such ideas.
“There is a new ideology, namely neo-communism that purports to prioritise democracy in daily life. For Indonesia, communism is a latent threat and [our] mutual enemy”, he asserted during a break in a joint prayer with TNI (Indonesian military) members during the commemoration of Sanctity of Pancasila Day on Tuesday September 30.
In order to contain the growth of communism in Indonesia the commemoration of Sanctity of Pancasila Day is extremely important so that historical facts are understood and instilled [in society].
“It needs to be understood and instilled as historical fact, the bloody affair [the alleged coup in 1965 – JB] by a group of communists that [tried] to erase Pancasila”, he added.
Nurmantyo hopes that by holding the commemoration, the dark history of communism in Indonesia can be understood by the younger generation, so the seeds of a new communism can be cut before they grow.
The joint prayer for the heroes of the revolution is being held by all members of the religious community that exist in Indonesia, which according to Nurmantyo clearly assert that Indonesia’s ideology is the state ideology of Pancasila.
“This is important not just so that the facts are not buried and perverted, [but also] so to influence the next generation so that it does not happen again”, he added. (one)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
