Retired Military Generals Behind 1965 Seminar Cancellation
20 September 2017 11:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of retired military generals played a role in canceling the seminar on the 1965 tragedy that was planned to be held at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute office on Saturday. Lieut. Gen. (ret) Kiki Syahnarki, chair of the Retired Army Association (PPAD), said that the generals asked the National Police chief Tito Karnavian and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto to stop the seminar titled “Pengungkapan Kebenaran Sejarah 65/66” (Revelations of the Truth of the 65/66 History).
Kiki’s revelation corroborates the statement issued by Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid that the police had disbanded the seminar due to pressure from retired military generals. Kiki said that having heard about the 1965 seminar, a number of retired generals gathered at the building of the National Armed Forces (TNI) and police Retirees Council in Menteng on Tuesday. “We asked the government to stop the event because it has no benefit and might create fresh conflict,” he told Tempo yesterday in Jakarta.
Read: Retired General Kivlan Zein Denies Masterminding Attack on YLBHI
The retired generals also contacted one of the invitees, the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) member Sidarto Danusubroto, to dissuade him from coming to the seminar. Sidarto has confirmed that he was invited to the event. Two days before the event, he canceled the plan to attend the seminar. “I canceled it not because of the phone call, but because I noticed that it might spark furor…” he said.
Despite urging the cancellation of the seminar, Kiki has denied mobilizing 2,000 protesters to besiege the YLBHI office on Sunday night. “The attack was out of my control,” he said, adding that he only encouraged youngsters to oppose the event.
Retired major general Kivlan Zein has confirmed that the retired military personnel forum had called for the disbandment of the seminar. He, however, claimed that he did not attend the meeting of the retired generals due to other commitments abroad. Kivlan also said that he was invited by the Anti-Communist Students and Youth Alliance chairman Rahmat to discuss the planned protest. Rahmat confirmed that he did invite Kivlan that night. The latter, however, denied involvement in the attack on the YLBHI building. “I deny the accusation of masterminding the mass mobilization,” he said.
Security Minister Wiranto could not be reached for comment. The National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said that the seminar was disbanded due to the lack of a permit.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI | DANANG FIRMANTO | INDRI MAULIDAR
