East Java Governor Claims PKI Symbol was Part of Theatrical Act
17 August 2015 16:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Java Governor Soekarwo said that participants carrying communist symbol during cultural march to commemorate the Indonesian Independence Day on Monday, August 17, 2015, were part of a theatrical act.
Soekarwo claimed that the symbol does not represent the rise of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and asked the public not to worry.
Following the incident, Commander of the Military District V Brawijaya, Major General Sumardi, has instructed all activities to be screened in order to prevent the rise of communism in Indonesia. "If there are indications that an event will involve [the hammer and sickle] symbol, it should be cancelled," Sumardi said.
Nevertheless, Sumardi said that are no signs of the PKI's resurgence and that the participants were carrying the symbol merely to commemorate the1965 massacre.
EDWIN FAJERIAL