ABSTRACT
The genocide and other crimes against humanity committed in Indonesia were not just ‘spontaneous’ actions as the army propaganda said. They were orchestrated by the New Order government and coordinated by the army. This was the conclusion reached by the panel of judges of the IPT 1965 after weighing up all the evidence. This chapter discusses the role of the army. It is based on research conducted in Aceh and other genocide sites in Indonesia. It summarizes the main findings of the judges regarding the use of torture, sexual violence, imprisonment, forced disappearances, forced exile, propaganda and the complicity of other states. The arguments on why the Indonesian massacres count as genocide are outlined. The last part of the chapter is devoted to the complicity of other nations, particularly the US, the UK and Australia. The US provided material support in the form of money, small arms and telecommunications equipment, all of which supported the propaganda campaign. Even though these nations were aware of the slaughter going on in Indonesia they did nothing to stop it. Instead they appeared to condone the massacres and to welcome the overthrow of President Sukarno.
