A Preliminary Analysis of the October 1, 1965 Coup in Indonesia by Benedict R. OG. Anderson & Ruth T. McVey

Author:Benedict R. OG. Anderson & Ruth T. McVey
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Equinox Publishing
Published: 2009-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

The Untung Group, Acting Independently to Seize Power

“Only the honoured Chiefs of the corps of the Palace Guard have a limit, fixed. Five is the number of these mantri’s, blameless, taking care of the business of the Interior.”—Nagarakrtagama (10, II, 3-4)

If we accept, then, that it is not likely the PKI or Sukarno planned the affair of October 1, is it not possible that the group comprising the September 30th Movement did so, acting to secure power on its own? We posit here middle-grade officers strongly resentful of the army top leadership, which they hold responsible for their professional lack of success and for the country’s unfortunate situation. They would be sympathetic to opinions and rumors—inspired by the Communists and others—pointing to the Western orientation of the General Staff group, to its Menteng mentality, and to its obstruction of Sukarno’s endeavors. They grumble among themselves. If only Sukarno would take action to rid himself of these people; if only he didn’t stare himself blind at the General Staff and its allies among the top officers and realized that just below them was a vital part of the army willing to ally with the People and carry the revolution forward. They might but need not have formed a well-defined conspiracy; in fact, the sudden and erratic course of the coup would seem to argue against real organization or thorough planning. We need assume only the most primitive form of association—that of common feeling and common acquaintance, at least having heard of Untung and knowing where he stood. Presumably in Central Java various officers of Untung’s circle had, when he was stationed there, agreed with him often in conversation that Something Had to Be Done, and perhaps had heard him repeat that he was the man to do it. Presumably among the Semarang group this had been discussed in more concrete form after Untung was posted to the Tjakrabirawa—unless it was sheer accident that put Untung’s old battalion in Djakarta for Armed Forces Day. But those outside Djakarta need have had no prior knowledge of just what would be attempted or when: they need only have known enough so that when something did occur they were not too surprised or uncertain of its meaning to act.

It would not seem unnatural that a relationship could have existed or been established between Untung and his associates and the air force personnel at Halim: both resented the army and especially the General Staff, the air force particularly because of longstanding rivalry between the services and because of the army’s footdragging in the Kalimantan campaign. We see pro-rebel sympathies evidenced at the air bases in Central Java, presumably because of similar feelings. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that the Untung group could by itself have recruited the people necessary to control Halim as completely and for as long a time as it did, for its command was apparently unquestioned: the PGT guards and trainers, the technical and air force personnel, were all either participants in the affair or silent.

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