Kenapa G30S Terjadi? | Latar Belakang G30SPKI

Summary

The video explores the events surrounding Indonesia’s G30S movement in 1965, where internal conflicts within the military, accusations against the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), and Soekarno's leadership played pivotal roles. The script delves into the tensions between the military and PKI, Soekarno's delicate balancing act between these forces, and the political instability leading to the movement's tragic outcome, often described as genocide. Historians such as Benedict Anderson suggest internal military conflicts were the true catalyst, while many questions about the incident remain unanswered.

Takeaways

• 📻 On October 1st, 1965, Indonesia was shaken by a radio broadcast reporting a coup attempt against President Soekarno, allegedly involving a 'General Council' within the Indonesian Army.
• 🎖️ The September 30th Movement (G30S) was led by Lieutenant Colonel Untung to prevent this coup and form the Indonesian Revolution Council.
• ⚖️ The legitimacy conflict of the Revolutionary Council led to the collapse of the G30S movement.
• 🛑 The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was accused of orchestrating the G30S movement, which resulted in mass persecution and genocide against its members.
• 🌍 International organizations have condemned the events of 1965 as a gross violation of human rights.
• 🤔 Historians like Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey questioned whether the PKI had a strong motive for the coup, suggesting internal military conflicts instead.
• 🛡️ Soekarno balanced power between the Indonesian military and the PKI, with the military acting as defense and a political force, while the PKI mobilized mass support.
• ⚔️ Tensions between the military and the PKI escalated due to ideological differences, particularly during events like the Trikora and Dwikora incidents.
• 🔍 The PKI formed a Special Bureau to monitor military movements and proposed a 'Fifth Force,' consisting of armed workers and peasants, raising tensions with the military.
• ❓ The existence of a 'Council of Generals' plotting a coup is still debated, with some historians suggesting the G30S was rooted in internal military conflicts, particularly involving the Diponegoro Division.

Q & A

What event did the September 30th Movement (G30S) respond to?

The September 30th Movement (G30S) responded to reports of a 'General Council' within the Indonesian Army, allegedly collaborating with the CIA to carry out a coup against President Soekarno.

What was the immediate consequence of the collapse of the G30S movement?

The immediate consequence of the collapse of the G30S movement was the accusation that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was the mastermind behind the movement, which led to their persecution and genocide.

What did historians like Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey argue regarding the PKI's involvement in G30S?

Historians Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey argued that the PKI did not have a strong motive to carry out a coup against Soekarno, as his position in the government was relatively secure. They believed the G30S was more likely the result of internal conflicts within the Indonesian military.

What was President Soekarno's approach to balancing power between the military and the PKI?

Soekarno maintained a balance between the military, which provided defense and political power, and the PKI, which garnered mass support. He avoided relying too much on one faction to prevent either from overpowering the other and threatening his own authority.

What were the main differences between the military and the PKI in terms of their strength and influence?

The military held a strong position due to its role in defense and politics, whereas the PKI was powerful due to its ability to mobilize mass support among workers and peasants. However, the PKI was weaker in terms of weaponry and relied on Soekarno’s protection for legitimacy.

What was the 'Council of Generals' that triggered the G30S movement?

The 'Council of Generals' was reportedly a group within the Indonesian Army planning a coup against Soekarno, which allegedly triggered the G30S movement. However, the actual existence of this council remains uncertain.

How did internal divisions within the Indonesian military contribute to the G30S incident?

Internal divisions within the Indonesian military, particularly between different factions and regional guerrilla groups, contributed to tensions that led to the G30S incident. These divisions were driven by ideological differences, economic disparities, and rivalry between military leaders.

What role did the PKI’s 'Special Bureau' play in the lead-up to the G30S movement?

The PKI’s 'Special Bureau,' led by Sjam, was responsible for gathering information on military movements related to the PKI. It played a key role in informing the PKI about the alleged coup by the 'Council of Generals,' which ultimately triggered the G30S movement.

Why was the proposal to create a 'Fifth Force' controversial, and what impact did it have on tensions?

The proposal to create a 'Fifth Force,' consisting of armed workers and peasants, was controversial because it threatened the military's dominance in national defense. Although it received support from the People's Republic of China, it was opposed by the Indonesian military, further escalating tensions between the military and the PKI.

What role did international factors, such as the Cold War, play in shaping the political landscape in Indonesia during the 1960s?

The Cold War influenced Indonesia’s political landscape by heightening proxy conflicts and ideological divisions, especially between communist and anti-communist forces. Soekarno's attempts to navigate this environment, balancing support from both the military and the PKI, were central to the events leading up to the G30S.

Outlines

00:00

📻 The G30S Coup and its Aftermath

On October 1, 1965, Indonesia was shaken by a radio broadcast about a supposed coup attempt against President Soekarno, led by a 'General Council' within the Indonesian Army, allegedly supported by the CIA. In response, the September 30th Movement (G30S) was launched by Lieutenant Colonel Untung, creating the Indonesian Revolution Council. However, the movement collapsed due to internal conflicts, leading to the massacre of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members who were accused of orchestrating the coup. Historians like Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey question whether the PKI was truly behind the coup, as they lacked motive, suggesting that internal military conflicts played a larger role. This video aims to explore Indonesia’s political climate and the roles of key actors leading up to the G30S/PKI incident.

05:01

⚔️ Soekarno's Complex Political Balancing Act

Before the G30S incident, the political landscape in Indonesia was shaped by three key actors: the Indonesian Armed Forces, the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), and President Soekarno. Soekarno, Indonesia's charismatic leader since its 1945 independence, faced military divisions due to varying backgrounds and ideologies within the armed forces. Despite this, the military was crucial for national defense and wielded significant political power. Soekarno, while relying on the military, also cultivated the PKI as a counterbalance to avoid excessive dependence on military power. The PKI, known for its mass mobilization rather than military strength, sought power through peaceful means and alliances with nationalist groups, but often found itself in conflict with the military, setting the stage for future tensions.

10:03

⚖️ The Fragile Balance Between Military and PKI

President Soekarno carefully maintained a balance between the military and the PKI, with each faction supporting his rule in different ways. Two incidents, Trikora and Dwikora, significantly shifted this balance. During the Trikora campaign to reclaim Papua, the military's influence grew as Soekarno formed the High Command, while the PKI’s role increased during the Dwikora incident with its anti-imperialist stance. The PKI’s lack of military strength, however, left it reliant on Soekarno’s protection. As Soekarno's health deteriorated, the PKI feared a military takeover and proposed forming a Fifth Force of armed workers and peasants, supported by China. The military opposed this, and tensions escalated, culminating in the rumor of a General Council plotting a coup, which triggered the G30S/PKI incident.

Keywords

💡G30S

G30S refers to the September 30th Movement, a coup attempt carried out by military officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Untung in 1965. The movement aimed to stop an alleged coup by the 'General Council' and establish the Indonesian Revolution Council. This event is central to the video, as it triggered political turmoil and led to the eventual persecution of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

💡Indonesian Communist Party (PKI)

The PKI was a prominent political party in Indonesia, which became the scapegoat for the G30S coup attempt. The party was accused of masterminding the movement, which led to mass killings of its members and sympathizers. The PKI's role in the G30S remains debated, with historians questioning its involvement and suggesting it was more of a victim of internal military conflicts.

💡Council of Generals

The Council of Generals was a rumored group within the Indonesian Army, allegedly plotting a coup against President Soekarno. This rumor was one of the key reasons behind the G30S movement, although the existence of this council remains disputed. The script uses this concept to highlight the tension between the military and the PKI.

💡Soekarno

Soekarno was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 until 1967. He played a central role in Indonesian politics, balancing power between the military and the PKI. His leadership and health decline created a power vacuum, intensifying political tension and contributing to the events surrounding the G30S.

💡Guided Democracy

Guided Democracy was Soekarno's political system, which he implemented to balance various political forces in Indonesia, including the military and the PKI. This system aimed to centralize power under Soekarno, but it also contributed to rising tensions, as both the military and the PKI competed for influence.

💡Cold War

The Cold War influenced Indonesia’s internal politics, with global tensions between communism and Western capitalism shaping the country's alliances and conflicts. The PKI, being a communist party, was influenced by international communist movements, while the Indonesian military had anti-communist tendencies. This external pressure from the Cold War context exacerbated internal strife, leading to the G30S incident.

💡Military Politics

Military politics in Indonesia played a crucial role during Soekarno's era, as the military was involved not only in defense but also in governance and the economy. The tension between military factions and the PKI is a key theme of the video, showing how these conflicts contributed to the G30S movement and its aftermath.

💡Special Bureau

The Special Bureau was an intelligence unit within the PKI that monitored military movements and aimed to foster ties between the army and the communist ideology. The bureau played a pivotal role in alerting the PKI about the supposed Council of Generals, which allegedly pushed the PKI into action, triggering the G30S.

💡Massacre of 1965

The Massacre of 1965 refers to the large-scale killings that followed the G30S movement, where members and sympathizers of the PKI were persecuted. This event is described as a genocide by many international organizations and is a major historical and human rights issue linked to the power struggles between Indonesia’s political and military factions.

💡Dwikora Incident

The Dwikora Incident was a military campaign initiated by Soekarno to confront Malaysia, which led to the PKI gaining prominence through its anti-Western imperialism stance. This event is crucial in the script because it further increased the PKI's influence, raising tensions with the military and contributing to the eventual conflict of the G30S.

Highlights

On October 1st, 1965, a radio broadcast reported a coup attempt by internal actors within the Indonesian Army, who allegedly collaborated with the CIA.

The September 30th Movement (G30S) was led by Lieutenant Colonel Untung to counter the coup attempt and establish the Indonesian Revolution Council.

The G30S Movement's failure and the subsequent collapse of the Revolutionary Council led to the accusation that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was the mastermind behind the movement.

The PKI became the target of mass extermination, resulting in genocide, which many international organizations view as a gross violation of human rights.

Historians like Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey argue that the PKI lacked a strong motive for a coup, suggesting internal military conflicts and the PKI's relationship with the military were key factors.

The Indonesian government, led by President Soekarno, was shaped by a delicate balance between the Indonesian Armed Forces and the PKI.

Soekarno, the leader of Indonesia since its 1945 independence, relied on both the military for defense and the PKI for mass support to maintain his power.

Indonesia’s military at the time consisted of diverse factions, including professionally trained soldiers and regional guerrilla groups, which often led to internal clashes.

Despite internal military conflicts, the Indonesian military played a crucial role in both defense and politics, leading to its close relationship with Soekarno.

Soekarno carefully balanced the military and PKI to prevent one group from gaining too much power, which could undermine his authority.

The PKI focused on mass mobilization, not armed conflict, and worked closely with Soekarno to gain political legitimacy.

Tensions between the military and PKI escalated during the Dwikora incident, with the PKI pushing for the formation of a Fifth Force to arm workers and peasants.

The proposal for the Fifth Force, supported by China, was strongly opposed by the military, increasing tensions between the two factions.

The rumor of a 'Council of Generals' plotting a coup, whether true or not, triggered the G30S movement, ultimately resulting in the disaster.

Debates continue to this day regarding the true mastermind behind the G30S incident, with many historians attributing it to internal military conflict rather than PKI instigation.

Transcripts

On October 1st 1965,

Indonesia was shocked by a radio broadcast

that reported of internal actors within the Indonesian Army,

who formed a "General Council",

and collaborated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

to carry out a coup against President Soekarno.

To take action against this,

the September 30th Movement, better known as G30S,

was carried out by Lieutenant Colonel Untung,

which broke these coup efforts

and established the Indonesian Revolution Council

to run the government in Indonesia.

The conflict between the legitimacy

of the Revolutionary Council

led to the collapse of the entire G30S movement.

The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was accused

of being the main mastermind behind the movement.

As a consequence, they became targets for extermination

which led to genocide.

Many international organizations

say that what happened in 1965,

was a gross violation of human rights.

Apart from the question:

Who exactly was the mastermind of the movement...

...that eventually led to a massacre?

Some experts began to question

what was behind the G30 movement

and how it ended in genocide.

For example, historians such as

Benedict Anderson and Ruth McVey

considered that the PKI did not have a good motive

for carrying out a coup against Soekarno,

because of his relatively strong position in government.

Rather, it was the result of internal conflicts

within the Indonesian military

and its complex relationship with the PKI.

These factor then accumulated

and culminated in that bloody night.

In today's video,

we will not try to answer

who the mastermind behind the incident was.

Rather, we want to explain

the condition of Indonesia's government at the time

and the history of the relationship between the various actors

who would later be involved in the G30S / PKI incident.

[History of the Military]

[Military Politics]

[Cold War]

[Background of G30S]

Prior to the G30S / PKI events,

there were complex relationships between the 3 main actors.

Namely the Indonesian Armed Forces,

the Indonesian Communist Party

and President Soekarno.

Soekarno declared Indonesia's independence in 1945.

And then was officially inaugurated as president.

After that, Indonesia had to face

several military aggressions and a Cold War situation

in which proxy warfare grew increasingly rampant.

Therefore,

Soekarno needed state tools

that could be immediately mobilized for military operations.

As an accomplished orator and a charismatic leader,

Soekarno was able to garner support

from various communities to take part

in defending the country.

However, the Indonesian military at that time

was still divided into several sections.

Harold Crouch in his book "Military and Politics in Indonesia"

describes three types of military in Indonesia at that time.

On the one hand, were those who received

professional military education from colonialists,

such as the Netherlands and Japan.

Another type of military, and the most numerous,

were guerrilla groups that were formed regionally,

sometimes informally and even spontaneously.

These guerrilla groups

tended to adhere to the unique characteristics

of their respective regions,

having alliances with more than one organization or laskah.

Due to the diversity within the military body in Indonesia,

both from the diversity of backgrounds

and the lack of strong ideological unity,

conflicts between institutions, even within the military,

occurred frequently throughout Indonesia's history.

For example on July 3rd 1946,

several officers kidnapped Sutan Sjahrir,

as they considered him too submissive to the Dutch.

On February 15th 1958,

the PRRI / Permesta incident took place

in which the military again clashed with each other.

These are just a few of many internal clashes.

This friction within the military body however

did not diminish their importance to the nation.

They proved to be a formidable force for defense

and had a close relationship with Soekarno.

However, defense was not the only function

of the Indonesian military at that time.

The military was also actively involved in politics,

both in government agencies

and in state-owned companies.

This principle, taking the "middle ground" was common

in which the military would not take total control

of Indonesian state politics,

but would also not be apathetic towards it.

According to Harold Crouch, this was possible

because of the weak parliamentary government in Indonesia

and political instability in the country.

The between Soekarno and the military grew stronger

during the Guided Democracy period.

However, Soekarno was also careful

not to depend too much on military power.

After all, if the military's position which was too strong,

it would lead to diminishing influence from Soekarno.

Soekarno had to have another faction loyal to him,

one which could balance the influence of the military.

And that faction was the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

The greatest ability of the Indonesian Communist Party

did not lie in its ability to fight.

But in its ability to mobilize mass support,

especially from workers and farmers.

The PKI leaders realized

that the doctrine of historical materialism in communism

could not be applied in Indonesia

as the proletariat and the bourgeoisie classes were too weak.

In addition, the PKI did not have enough weapons

to match the military.

As such, the PKI preferred a more peaceful way to gain power

and a more flexible ideology

that could be applied to Indonesia's social conditions.

By establishing a relationship with Soekarno,

and pursuing a narrative of nationalism,

the PKI gained legitimacy

and further enhanced its status in society.

This did not mean that the PKI did not experience conflict.

In order to strengthen its base of support,

the PKI also pursued a strategy of a broad united front

between the working class,

peasants,

petite bourgeoisie

and the national bourgeoisie

based on an alliance of workers and peasants

under the leadership of the working class.

The PKI also had to establish ties

with the party created by Soekarno,

the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI).

However, the PNI has a conservative support base

influenced by its strong Javanese culture.

Moreover,

the PKI and the military had conflicted in the past.

And, the continued ideological differences between them

only heightened this rivalry.

This was the political condition in Indonesia at that time.

Soekarno had two standing pillars.

On the one hand, the military as a means of defense

and as an actor in Indonesian politics and economy.

While on the other hand, there was the PKI

whose mass support could strengthen Soekarno's position

Soekarno, as the leader of the nation,

had to balance these two pillars.

If one became stronger than they should be,

they could slowly chip away at Soekarno's power.

And might smother the other pillar entirely.

Two events almost upset this balance.

During the Trikora Incident,

military mobilization was indispensable

in the operation to seize Papua.

As a result, the position of the military increased greatly,

especially with the formation of the High Command (KOTI)

which was chaired by Soekarno

and General Nasution as deputy commander.

To balance military power,

Soekarno appointed Ahmad Yani

as the army chief of staff,

since Ahmad Yani was considered to be more loyal to himself.

In addition, he started eliminating martial laws

like those during the Trikora incident.

This changed though during the Dwikora incident.

This time, the PKI's position grew rapidly

as its narrative of Western anti-imperialism

mobilized people to nationalize foreign companies.

Even so,

the PKI was still not as strong as the military

especially in terms of weaponry

and was still dependent on Soekarno's protection.

When Soekarno's health deteriorated further,

the PKI became increasingly concerned that without Soekarno,

the Indonesian military could take over the government.

In anticipation of this,

the PKI formed a Special Bureau chaired by Sjam

to collect information about military movements

as it related to the PKI,

as well as to draw sympathy from the Indonesian army

to theories of Marxism and communism.

In addition, the PKI also suggested forming a Fifth Force

which would consist of workers and peasants

who were armed to assist military operations.

This proposal even received support from

the People's Republic of China (PRC),

which promised 100,000 pieces of light weaponry

to help arm with the Fifth Force.

However, this was opposed by the military.

But instead of strengthening the PKI's position,

it sharply increased the tension between the two.

This tension came to burning point

when news came from the Special Bureau

that there was a Council of Generals

attempting to stage a coup

on October 5th 1965.

Although the actual existence of the Council of Generals

was still questionable,

this news was what triggered the G30S / PKI.

There are several versions of this event.

We have all heard the version

in which the PKI responded to the news

by making it appear as if there existed

an internal conflict within the TNI,

and thus tried to stop the General Council's efforts

by influencing other parts of the military to arrest them.

Although in the end...

the attempt ended in disaster.

However, there are also historians such as

Benedict Anderson and Ruth T. McVey

who think that the coup was

more likely a result from internal conflict within the Army.

In particular, from the Diponegoro Division,

who felt neglected by the central military leadership.

Both economically and morally.

Until now, there are still many debates about this topic...

... that until today, may go unanswered.