1965 Coup d'état: A History of Political Upheaval

In Indonesia, a coup d'etat occurred when a faction within the army led by the 30th September Movement seized control and assassinated six senior army generals. This event marked a significant turning point in Indonesian history and set the stage for a violent and sweeping political transformation. The coup's instigators claimed to preempt a reactionary coup by a 'Council of Generals', although this claim has been widely disputed. Following the coup attempt, General Suharto quickly mobilized forces, asserting control over Jakarta and launching a campaign to suppress the 30th September Movement. This incident led to a broader anti-communist purge across the nation. Over the subsequent months, a large-scale extermination of suspected Communists ensued. Estimates suggest that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people were killed, while thousands more were imprisoned. The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), previously one of the largest communist parties outside of the Soviet Union and China, was decimated. The political landscape shifted dramatically. General Suharto emerged as the dominant figure, and by the following years, he had effectively dismantled the existing regime led by President Sukarno. Sukarno, who had led Indonesia to independence and had been a prominent proponent of the policy of 'Guided Democracy', saw his influence wane rapidly. Suharto established a new order that would remain in power for over three decades, marked by centralization of power and suppression of political dissent. His regime also oriented Indonesia's foreign policy towards the West, establishing closer ties with the United States and other Western nations, which had previously viewed Indonesia with suspicion due to its alignment with communist countries during Sukarno's leadership. The impacts of this coup d'etat were profound and widespread, leading to a reconfiguration of Indonesian society and governance. The violence unleashed during the purge left deep scars, and the long-term effects of these events continue to resonate within Indonesia's collective memory and socio-political landscape. #MoofLife #Indonesia #Coup #PoliticalChange #History #IndonesianCoup #AntiCommunism #Suharto #Sukarno #CommunistPurge