Selfy Momongan (Magang), Jakarta – The recent raids against Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) related paraphernalia and books have attracted the special attention of the National Library (Perpusnas) with acting Perpusnas head Dedi Junaedi supporting the censorship of books containing leftist ideas.

Jakarta, Indonesia – The government sponsored national symposium on 1965 was held in April although reverberations over the forum, which for the first time brought together victims and perpetrators of the bloody 1965 tragedy, are still being felt to this day.

Jakarta – The owners of books related to communism have been asked to hand them over the government. According to Defense Minister retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu, prohibitions on such material also covers documents circulating on the internet.

Jakarta – Retired Indonesian military (TNI) officers are planning to organise an anti-PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) symposium on July 2. The anti-PKI symposium is aimed at countering the government sponsored symposium on the 1965 tragedy in April.

Dieqy Hasbi Widhana – Following the 1965 International People’s Tribunal (IPT65) in The Hague and the National Symposium on the 1966 Tragedy in Jakarta, there has been widespread arrests of people for using hammer-and-sickle symbols.

Jakarta – Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace chairperson Hendardi believes that the recent spate of propaganda about the rise of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), which is being linked to activities such as film screenings, discussions and book publications, is in fact aimed at creating a negative influence on government efforts to res

Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) labour activist Iswan Abdullah A Siata is paying close attention to the communist movement that has begun to reemerge in Indonesia of late.

Nurul Hidayat, Mojokerto – Five members of a local band called Mesin Sampink in East Java have been arrested by the Mojokerto municipal police for playing the song Genjer-Genjer during a music performance.

Mei Amelia, Jakarta – The Kebayoran Baru sectoral police have questioned a clothing trader in the Block M shopping district of South Jakarta for selling T-shirts with pictures of the hammer-and-sickle.

Based on the results of the questioning, no indications were found that the trader was spreading treason (maker).

Siswanto, Welly Hidayat – Islamic demonstrators have protested against the 3rd Asean Literary Festival (ALF) 2016 which is to be held today Thursday May 5 at the Ismail Marzuki Cultural Centre in Central Jakarta.

Pito Agustin Rudiana, Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has defended the Yogyakarta metropolitan police for shutting down an event commemorating International Press Freedom Day held by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Yogyakarta on the evening of Tuesday May 3.

Sukma Indah Permana, Yogyakarta – A film showing of the documentary Buru Island My Homeland (Pulau Buru Tanah Tanah Air Beta) at the offices of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in the Umbul Harjo area of the Central Java city of Yogyakarta has been closed down by police.

Jogja – Hundreds of workers from various trade unions in the Central Java province of Yogyakarta commemorated International Labour Day or May Day by declaring the formation of a mass organisation called “The House of the Indonesian People” during a rally in the centre of Yogyakarta city on May 1.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of informal sector workers from the Yogyakarta People’s and Worker Alliance (ARPY) called for the protection to ensure the rights of home-based and domestic workers and the fulfillment social guarantees by the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS).

Taufik Ismail, Jakarta – Thousand of protesting workers who commemorated May Day on Monday May 1 held a theatrical action in front of the State Palace in which they placed a giant puppet inside an iron cage.

Prima Gumilang, Jakarta – The Internationale was sung at the close of a commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day in Jakarta. Thousands of workers from the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) sang the song which was popularised by followers of socialism in the 19th century.

Andrian Salam Wiyono – A commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day was also held in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung where journalists from various different trade unions demonstrated in front of the governor’s office on Jl. Diponegoro on May 1.

Fahrizal Syam, Makassar – Thousands of workers from various different trade unions in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar held a rally to commemorate Labour Day at the flyover on Jl. Urip Sumiharjo Makassar on Sunday May 1.

Masfiatur Rochma – Thousands of workers held a protest action at the East Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and the governor’s office in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on May 1.

Andrian Salam Wiyono – The commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day was marked by a protest action at the governor’s office in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Sunday May 1 where workers unfurled a 100 metre-long red-and-white flag.