TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Kediri 0809 Military District Command (Kodim) of TNI (Indonesian Military) confiscated hundreds of books that contain literature on communism on Wednesday, December 26. The team took immediate action following reports from local residents.

“Our members received a tip of two bookstores that sell books related to PKI (a reference to the country’s extinct communist party),” said Commander of Kodim 0809, Lieutenant Colonel Dwi Agung Sutrisno yesterday.

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The bookstores were known to be Toko Q Ageng and Toko Abdi located at Jalan Brawijaya in Kediri District. Both stores are located nearby an English local study-hub known as Kampung Inggris, literally translated as English Village.

Members of TNI's Kediri 0809 Military District Command (Kodim) found books about the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) at several bookstores in Kediri on Wednesday, December 26, 2018.

During the raid, the TNI's Kodim members found 138 books that allegedly contains communist-tendency that are written by numerous and different sources. The books include "Benturan NU PKI 1948-1965" and ”Di Bawah Lentera Merah", both considered by some to be influenced by communism.

The TNI in conjunction with Police and Kediri’s District Attorney’s Office are investigating this incident to determine whether the existence of these books have violated any law overseeing the spread of communism.

HARI TRI WASONO (CONTRIBUTOR)