In Reply to: numbers posted by cliff on Sunday, 7. November 2004 at 09:11 Bali Time:
Various nunbers were reported by human right groups. They ranged between 300.000 to 1 million people killed in the Communist crackdown. In my opinion 400.000 reported by CIA was the closest number to the truth.Think about a fact that Indonesia has 10.000 villages and each one likely brought maximal its 30 communist-loyalists to be killed. The chain of command was like this : CIA gave a list of PKI members in all regions of Indonesia to Mr. Suharto, he instructed his troops to arrest all communist activists and many loyalists in the districts and subdistricts. It was unclear whether CIA expreesing assent to the arrest of people beyond PKI members or whether these extended arrests were kind of improvisation used by Suharto to secure his position.
Those accused of being involved in communist movement were driven usually in trucks to a remote areas and were executed. Guess who were the executors ? The Islamic Youth organisations. They beheaded those poor people in a way very similar to Iraqi insurgents did upon kidnapped foreigners nowadays.That action was justified because, according to Jihadis, communist party loyalists were infidel, it's ok to kill the unbelievers.
Funny to know that at this moment the Jihadis has included Americans as infidel.
I think CIA and the radical moslem should be blame for this tragedy.
My perception to Suharto's role in Indonesian economy obviously differed with yours.
Sure he was not a great president, as he was unable to respond favorably in domestic economic crises in 1997 But during most of his tenure he brought Indonesia to social and economic stability.Indonesian economic growth was in steady rate 7.6% at that moment and didn't you know that after 6 years he left his office the growth was just 2 %.
How much is SBY's goal ? He said he will work hard to reach 4 %. FYI People Republic of China growth is 8 % in 2004.
And yes Indonesia's resources are plentiful. 80% South East Asian oil are in Indonesia. 50% Indonesian lands covered by tropical forest making woods to be second largest comodity. But keep in mine that estimated population in Indonesia is 224 millions in contrast with Australia 18 millions, Singapore 2,7 millions, Malaysia 23 millions.
Too many bellies to be filled up with food in Indonesia.