Suharto's Deadly Regime

The Truth About Suharto: Indonesia's Darkest Era On September 30, 1965, General Suharto led a military coup in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking the beginning of a brutal regime that would last for three decades. Suharto's rise to power was swift and deadly, with estimates suggesting that over a million communists and suspected leftists were killed in the aftermath. Historian Robert Cribb notes that Suharto's ascension was facilitated by the chaos and instability that followed the attempted coup.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Suharto's rule was a period of stability and economic growth for Indonesia, with the standard story going that he brought order to a chaotic country. However, this narrative glosses over the violent means by which he maintained power and the devastating impact on the country's political and social landscape. The common understanding of Suharto's regime is that it was a necessary evil, with many Indonesians viewing him as a strong leader who guided the country through a tumultuous period.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Harold Crouch and Robert Elson have extensively documented the atrocities committed during Suharto's rule, which began in 1966 and lasted until 1998. On October 1, 1965, Suharto issued a statement calling for the destruction of the Communist Party of Indonesia, which led to a wave of violence and killings that would continue for years. According to the book "The Indonesian Massacres" by Bradley R. Simpson, Suharto's military forces worked closely with Islamic groups and other anti-communist organizations to identify and kill suspected leftists. The fact that Suharto's regime was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.2 million people between 1965 and 1966 is a stark reminder of the brutality of his rule. By 1967, Suharto had consolidated his power and established a regime that would be marked by corruption, cronyism, and human rights abuses. As noted by historian John Roosa, Suharto's regime was characterized by a culture of fear and intimidation, with many Indonesians living in constant terror of arrest, torture, and execution. The extent of Suharto's atrocities was largely hidden from the international community, but historians have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth about his regime, using primary sources like the documents of the Indonesian military and the testimony of survivors.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and journalists have long grappled with the task of uncovering the truth about Suharto's regime, but their efforts were consistently thwarted by the Indonesian government's deliberate attempts to suppress the story. Suharto himself took steps to erase the atrocities from the nation's collective memory, using his authoritarian power to silence dissenting voices and manipulate the media narrative. The CIA and other Western intelligence agencies also played a role in burying the story, as they had provided significant support to Suharto's regime and were keen to avoid drawing attention to their involvement in the massacre. One concrete reason why this history was not told is that many of the documents related to the event were classified or destroyed, making it difficult for researchers to piece together an accurate account of what happened. The Indonesian government's decision to limit access to these documents has been a major obstacle for those seeking to uncover the truth.

The Ripple Effect

The consequences of Suharto's actions can still be seen today, with many Indonesians continuing to feel the effects of his regime's brutality. The massacre had a profound impact on the country's political and social landscape, leading to a prolonged period of authoritarian rule and human rights abuses. The 1967 ban on the Communist Party of Indonesia, for example, remains in place to this day, a direct result of Suharto's crackdown on suspected communists. This ban has had a lasting impact on the country's political landscape, limiting the ability of left-wing parties to participate in the democratic process.

The Line That Says It All

Suharto's regime was responsible for the deaths of an estimated one million people, a cold-blooded calculation that allowed him to maintain his grip on power for three decades.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the 1965-1966 Indonesian massacre and Suharto's subsequent rule.