Hence, it absolved Soekarno from any involvement in the 30 September Movement (G30S) – the assassination of Army generals by elements of the Communist Party of Indonesia – which precipitated the 1965-66 mass killings of suspected communists in Indonesia and ushered in Suharto’s New Order regime.
“MPR Resolution No. XXXIII/MPRS/1967 has been classified as a law that was no longer enforced as its status is final, has been revoked, or expired,” MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo stated here on Monday (September 9).
Soesatyo’s remarks were conveyed while handing over the MPR Speakers’ Statement on the Resolution to Soekarno’s children, represented by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, member of parliament and composer Guruh Soekarnoputra, as well as Guntur Soekarnoputra and Sukmawati Soekarnoputri.
Although the law is no longer enforceable, the MPR speaker admitted that it would take time to wash out the prejudices held that Sukarno was involved or, at least, tacitly allowed the 30 September Movement to take place.
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Moreover, the former president had never been put on trial and never proven guilty as his successor, Suharto, did not carry out the legal process as directed by Article 6 of the Resolution, he remarked.
“Juridically, the accusation had never been proven before the justice. It had also violated our nation’s supremacy of law principle,” Soesatyo stated.
Meanwhile, then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bestowed the title of National Hero on Soekarno in 2012, which proved that his personal quality and services made him worthy of such status, he remarked, adding that President Joko Widodo's statement in 2022 also reaffirmed Sukarno’s loyalty to Indonesia.
“As Sukarno has been bestowed the ‘National Hero’ status, the former president has fulfilled its criteria, (one of which was) never commit an act of betrayal against the nation,” the MPR speaker remarked.
Soesatyo stated that by emphasizing the unenforceability of the resolution, the MPR seeks to reaffirm Soekarno’s unwavering loyalty to Indonesia, positive images of the former leader, and his rights as a former president.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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