Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan does not agree with the destruction of left-wing books in history Today, May 20, 2016

History today, 10 years ago, May 20, 2016, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (menkopolhukam), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan disagreed with the discourse of destroying left books - Marxism, Leninism, and communism. He considered that step would hinder thinking intelligence.

Previously, the communist discourse arose to cause a stir. Many parties began to show their support to break the chain of the spread of communism with raids and the destruction of left books.

The understanding of Marxism, Leninism, and communism is like a forbidden understanding in Indonesia. It all started from the existence of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in the 1960s. The PKI was then considered to control Indonesia with a bloody agenda.

This condition makes them considered as the mastermind of the PKI September 30 Movement (G30S). The PKI is believed to be the brain that carried out the kidnapping and murder of a number of TNI AD generals. The narrative made the state try to push back the PKI.

His sympathy was hunted down. His party was disbanded. The concept of communism and a set of others became a forbidden concept. This condition made no one dare to discuss communism in the New Order era (Orba). People think that communism is gone and will never rise.

The miracle of the communist narrative rising actually emerged in the era of the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government. The narrative developed because more and more communist attributes were freely sold in the market. People were openly scratching the wall with a hammer of all sorts.

Many political elites believe that it is a sign of the rise of communism. However, Jokowi's government officials have collectively rejected the same narrative. The rejection was derived from the fact in the field that did not indicate the rise of communists.

No group dared to appear to stir up communism, let alone treason in the field. The Minister of Home Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, also spoke up. He asked the police not to overreact by raiding communist-smelling things.

"Yes, look at it. If there are one or two shirts, this can also be a trend for young people. Look at it, don't overdo it. Someone posted on social media that thousands of people said, where? I checked there was none. I also asked, I checked the field too. There was none. "

"If someone sets the Genjer-genjer song, I told the National Police Chief, just arrest it. Just process it, don't make it up. (If) this is to revive the strength of the PKI, we don't want it either. This is the Minister of Law and Human Rights who is talking, if it's something we'll hit it," said Luhut as quoted by lamandetik.com, May 9, 2016.

The issue of communism rising makes the discourse of destroying left books emerge to the surface. The narrative was also echoed by the Acting Head of the National Library (perpusnas), Dedi Junaedi. He considers left books to be disturbing.

However, Luhut again took a stance. He considered that the Indonesian people did not need to be afraid of left-wing books on May 20, 2016. He emphasized his rejection of the discourse on the destruction of left-wing books. He considered that the study of ideology should not be restricted.

Luhut considers that if the communist study is limited, the people will be trapped in ignorance. Luhut considers that by reading the community, he can judge for himself the understanding of communism. Both from understanding history to the recent background.

Criticism of communism is growing. Its ideology may be banned, but its study cannot be banned, especially by destroying books.

"Academically, people can't study, they will be stupid later. If not, people don't know which communists are, suddenly he entered Indonesia. There must be an expert on communists," said Luhut as quoted by CNN Indonesia, May 20, 2016.