Kontras: Do Not Force the Screening of Anti-Communist Film

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yati Andriani, coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), deplored that the plan to broadcast “Pengkhianatan G 30 S PKI” (the Betrayal of the Communist).  Yati warned that there should not be any coercion from anyone to re-broadcast the film, as practiced during the New Order regime.

“There should be no direct or indirect attempts to [force the film screening], which could eventually lead to a situation where citizens who refuse to watch are considered against Pancasila,” said Yati today on Wednesday, September 20.

Read: G 30S PKI Important for Young Generations, TVRI CEO Says

Yati suggested that if the government decided to broadcast the film, it should depict a balanced view from the victim’s perspective. She also said that the government must revise the contents of the film.

“We can imagine how it happened to the seven generals, but there are also thousands of people that became targets of the violence,” she said.

Read: Jokowi Suggests an Updated Version of G30S/PKI Film

She also reminded that the government must anticipate the effects of broadcasting the film which is an anti-communist propaganda sponsored by the government regime under the leadership of President Soeharto.

The film was banned by the government in 1998 because it was considered to be historically inaccurate.

ARKHELAUS W.