ABSTRACT
Rural unrest during which it is alleged that Muslim leaders were targeted is often mentioned as leading to the anti-communist purge. In 1964–65 the Barisan Tani Indonesia (BTI – Indonesian Farmers’ Union) staged so-called one-sided actions to force the implementation of the 1960 Land Reform Laws. But how violent were they? It turns out that the Muslim youth movement Ansor and its affiliated militia Banser consistently had the upper hand. The PKI-affiliated cultural association Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat (Lekra – Institute of People’s Culture) also contributed to rural unrest. Religious leaders felt insulted by some plays staged by Lekra groups. The accusation that the PKI was anti-religion, particularly anti-Islam, became stronger during this period. The PKI was also accused of being against the national philosophy of the Pancasila. In reality the PKI had always upheld the Pancasila in its entirety. It includes calls for democracy and social justice which were prioritized by the PKI, while Muslim leaders prioritized the first sila, Belief in One God. The protestations of PKI chair Aidit that the party considered religion and the Pancasila important were not believed. Cultural clashes occurred in the cities too. A Cultural Manifesto that protested against the emphasis on social realism was produced by a group of writers and philosophers. The New Order proclaimed itself to be a Pancasila state. The last part of this chapter discusses the cruel effects of this state form on the victims of the genocide and other crimes against humanity.
