Prabowo Subianto's Spokesman Clarifies Speech on PKI
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25 November 2019 10:05 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesman of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, clarified the speech delivered by the rector of Indonesia Defense University Lit. Gen. Tri Legionosuko on behalf of the minister which was about the threat of the now-defunct PKI and communism.
“Pak Prabowo does not know about the speech content. He is not asked for confirmation,” said Dahnil via a short message to Tempo, Sunday, November 24.
According to Dahnil, any ideology threatening Pancasila must be tackled. Minister Prabowo also pushed schools to continue teaching the nation’s ideology.
However, he reminded that the education sector should not perpetuate historical vengeance because all Indonesian people must make moves to achieve the nation’s advancement.
“The education of history must strengthen the ideology of Pancasila and reduce historical vengeance as could as possible.”
During an event of review of a book entitled "PKI Dalang dan Pelaku G 30S 1965" (Mastermind and Actor of G 30S 1965, PKI) at National Defense Agency (Lemhanas) on Saturday, November 23. Legionosuko read out a speech that he said from Prabowo, who was absent at that time.
Legionosuko said that communism still exists in Indonesia, adding the ideology persisted albeit the Soviet Union had fallen for a long time. He called on the people to be wary of the latent danger of communism.
He also asked teachers to teach their students the history of the cruelty of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Dahnil stopped short of answering who wrote Legionosuko’s speech, underlining Prabowo did not acknowledge about the content.
Earlier, Gerindra deputy chair Sufmi Dasco Ahmad made similar remarks. He denied the saying that the speech came from his party chief patron Prabowo Subianto. “We consider it a personal statement from the rector,” said Dasco, who is also the House’s deputy speaker, Sunday, November 24.
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