The Sukarno File, 1965-1967: Chronology of a Defeat (Social Sciences in Asia)

The book gives a detailed and final account of what happened on 1 October 1965 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Six anti-communist Army generals were kidnapped and then murdered. Mid-level officers were involved, as well as the leadership of the Indonesian Communist Party, PKI. Apparent aim was to move the country to the left. The plot failed due to swift action of major-general Suharto, the later President, until then completely unknown even to the CIA. The coup turned out to be a blunder of major proportions resulting in the annihilation of the PKI as organization. When the military found out that Sukarno himself had been behind the conspiracy, he was shunted aside without bringing him to court. Instead of left, the country turned right. "Since Indonesia acquired independence in 1949 no event has had deeper impact on the country than what happened on 1 October 1965. Indonesia had been sliding all through that fateful year into chaos, and a communist takeover was in the cards. The Communist Party PKI boasted to have 3 million members and in all over 20 million registered supporters. In Mid and East Java the PKI had de facto taken over the local government." "Then suddenly a seemingly clumsy rebellion of some junior officers supported by the PKI leadership staged what looked like a coup and had the anti-communist Army leadership killed. However, within 24 hours an unknown general, Suharto, succeeded in averting the attempted coup and gained the upper hand. The PKI was outlawed and subsequently annihilated as an organization. President Sukarno was shunted aside and Suharto established a pro-Western regime." "Now, 40 years later, The Sukarno File tells the full story for the first time. It shows that the guiding genius behind the scenes was the President himself. He wanted to get rid of those Army leaders who thwarted his domestic policy of arming the people. At first he let the PKI and some pro-Communist officers help prepare the action, but half-way D-day 1 October the President panicked, and fearing that Suharto would succeed in turning the tables, deserted his co-conspirators. But to no avail, as it turned out."--BOOK JACKET Pt. 1. January 1, 1965-september 30, 1965 -- Ch. 1. Conflict With The Army Chiefs -- Ch. 2. Sukarno Summons The Communist Leaders, Aidit And Njoto, To Return Home -- Ch. 3. August 4 -- Ch. 4. Untung Goes To Work Summoning The Pki To Help -- Ch. 5. Conspiring By Networking -- Ch. 6. Upbeat To A Coup -- Pt. 2. October 1, 1965 -- Ch. 7. Edge Of Night -- Ch. 8. Morning -- Ch. 9. Turning Point Midday -- Ch. 10. Afternoon -- Ch. 11. 'are We Safe On The Way To Bogor? Yes, Pak, We Are!' -- Pt. 3. October 2, 1965-march 12, 1965 -- Ch. 12. Trapped -- Ch. 13. End -- App. I. Fifth Force -- App. Ii. Council Of Generals -- App. Iii. Sukarno's State Of Health -- App. Iv. Coup's Military Side -- App. V. Suharto And The 30 September Movement -- App. Vi. 30 September Movement For Washington : An Undeserved Accident -- App. Vii. Documents -- App. Viii. Widjanarko Report. By Antonie C.a. Dake. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [483]-487) And Index.