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KOMPAS.com – The events of the September 30 Movement (G30S) remain a puzzle to this day. One of them refers to the role of the second president of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto.
Among the various theories about the G30S brain, there are those who believe that Suharto was actually behind the events of the G30S and the massacre of the hundreds of thousands of people who followed him.
This theory rests on a simple question: Why wasn’t Suharto kidnapped and killed by the PKI like the other generals?
Before answering that question, you need to first understand the political situation behind the G30S incident.
Why did the G30S happen?
For decades the New Order government and schools taught that the G30S incident was the work of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI).
Also read: Around the G30S / PKI (1): History we know, fact or engineering?
In fact, the kidnapping and murder of the generals on October 1, 1965 cannot be considered the sole fault of the PKI.
The G30S incident was sparked by rumors that a group of generals or the Council of Generals wanted to hit President Sukarno.
Peter kasenda dalam Death of DN Aidit and fall of PKI (2016) wrote that the PKI obtained this information from their military colleagues who were sympathizers of the PKI.
The army at that time was divided into various factions fighting for influence and power. There were some who sympathized with the PKI.
PKI was one of the ruling parties at the time. Its cadres hold positions on boards of directors and official positions.
Soeharto (left) and Soekarno (right)Then there were factions that were actually against the PKI. Some were loyal to Sukarno and some were not. It is in this faction that the Council of Generals is believed to reside.
It should be noted that after World War II ended in 1945, the winning countries competed for influence.
This competition, known as the Cold War, divided the world in two. There is a Soviet Union with its communist views. And there is the United States of America with its capitalist ideology.
In the 1960s, Sukarno and the PKI tended to the Soviet Union and the anti-Barat.
Well, the Council of Generals is believed to be in line with the United States in wanting to get rid of Sukarno.
Based on this belief, military officers loyal to Sukarno acted in secret to prevent a coup.
Also read: Around G30S / PKI (2): What is the difference between PKI, socialism, communism, Marxism and Leninism?
There were Colonel Abdul Latief (commander of Garnisun Kodam Jaya), Lieutenant Colonel Untung (commander of the Cakrabirawa presidential guard battalion) and Commander Sujono (commander of the base defense forces regiment in Halim).
They were supported by Sjam Kamaruzaman, the head of the PKI Special Office (BC), which was the PKI’s intelligence agency. Sjam compiled a list of the selected generals along with the military officers.
They planned to “kidnap” the generals and bring them to President Sukarno.
Later, this plan failed miserably. Preparation is not done carefully. Instead, the generals died.
Where is Suharto?
In his testimony before the Military Court, Latief explained his reasons for not including Suharto’s name.
“… as we thought General Suharto was loyal to Bung Karno, we did not point it out,” Latief was quoted as saying in the book. September 30 Movement: Actors, Heroes and Adventurers (2010).
Read also: Around the G30S / PKI (3): Is it true that the CIA was involved behind the events of 1965?
The prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel CKH Sianturi SH, in a trial that took place on June 13, 1978, charged the defendant Latief with the death penalty, because he was found guilty of treason and would overthrow the legitimate government. The defendant Latief was standing listening to the demands of the Sianturi Oditur.Not only that, Latief even informed Major General Suharto, who was then commander of the Army Strategic Command.
Latief took this step after Pangdam Jaya, Major General Umar Wirahadikusumah, and Brawijaya’s regional commander Major General Basoeki Rachmat did not respond to his report.
Latief admitted that he had warned several times about an attempted coup by the Council of Generals.
According to Latief, Suharto was unfazed by the information. Even on the night of September 30, 1965, Suharto ignored Latief, who relayed his plan to thwart the coup.
Soeharto himself admitted that he met Latief prior to the G30S incident. However, he alternately testified.
In an interview with Mirror On June 19, 1970, Suharto claimed to have been received by Latief at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital on the night of September 30, 1965.
Also read: Around G30S / PKI (4): The mystery of the Council of Generals and the end of DN Aidit’s trip in the Old Well
Soeharto was caring for his youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra aka Tommy, who was being treated for burns due to a hot soup spill.
However, he said, Latief did not provide any information, but would kill him immediately.
“He was going to kill me. But since he was in a public place, he gave up his bad intentions,” Soeharto said.
But in his autobiography, Soeharto: My thoughts, speeches and actions (1988), Suharto admitted that he only saw Latief from a distance and did not have time to interact.
Suharto became a hero
After the G30S incident, the atmosphere warmed up. PKI is considered the mastermind. President Sukarno also did nothing.
KOMPAS news documents, March 11, 1971, on Suharto’s statement explaining the issuance of the March 11 Order.Civil society, students, assisted by the army, organized large-scale demonstrations to demand the dissolution of the PKI and the repair of the economy.
The climax was on March 11, 1966. Soeharto, then commander of the Army, asked Sukarno to give him power to overcome the situation.
The request, known as Supersemar (Order of March 11), paved the way for Suharto to seize power from Sukarno.
Suharto emerged as a hero. He crushed the PKI and became president.
The real atrocities occurred recently: at least 500,000 people accused of being PKI or their sympathizers were killed in various parts of Indonesia.
Also read: Around the G30S / PKI (5): Communism, the ideology failed! Should I be worry?
The lucky ones ended up in prison for decades. Like Latief, who felt betrayed by Suharto.
“So who had the generals killed? Was it me who gave the report to General Soeharto first? Or was it General Suharto, who received the report but did nothing?” Latief said in his testimony.
“In fact, there has never been any step to increase security. On the other hand, after the G30S incident broke out, apart from hitting the G30S and also killing thousands of people who knew nothing at all, the three of them (Soeharto , Umar Wirahadikusumah and Basuki Rachmat) then together overthrew the government of President Sukarno, “Latief said.
