Military Compliance: President Suharto's Weapons Lasts Up To 32 Years

President Suharto on Armed Forces Day October 5, 1970. (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA - The September 30th Movement (G30S) has had a major impact on President Suharto's career journey. His initiative fills the military leadership vacuum in the Army (AD) as the estuary. He served as Commander of Security and Order Recovery (Pangkopkamtib).

The top and sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) were crushed. That role made him Indonesia's number one person. The military obeyed under him. Terror was played. The study was successful. His leadership was gradually until 32 years.

The G30S incident brought panic throughout Jakarta. The kidnapping and murder of a number of army generals by military forces became the reason. The issue of the military controlling the city emerged from word of mouth. Schools and offices were closed.

The information reached Suharto. The kidnapping and murder of the Indonesian Army general was considered quite personal. He could not hide the sadness for long. He immediately initiated taking over the leadership vacuum within the AD.

His extension was also announced to the public through a Radio of the Republic of Indonesia (RRI) broadcast on October 1, 1965. Bung Karno did not approve of the action. However, the situation has turned critical and Bung Karno relented.

Suharto was appointed as Pangkopkamtib on October 3, 1965. Suharto used this power to carry out a counterattack. He believed the PKI was the main mastermind behind the G30S. The leadership and sympathizers were hunted by Suharto.

Suharto's actions were then appreciated by the public. Many of them called Suharto a hero. Moreover, most of the students. The educated see Suharto as a future leader who is able to protect the Indonesian people well. The restaurant was in fact answered. Suharto was able to perpetuate replacing Soekarno as Indonesia's number one person.

With his new position and authority, Suharto as Pangkopkamtib then intensively attacked the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) who was considered the mastermind behind the G30S incident. Public anger over the G30S incident was used as justification to carry out various efforts to clean up elements of the PKI both in the structure of the government and the regions.

However, this counter-attack is not apolitical. The influence of the PKI on the government bureaucracy since the early 1960s can be said to be quite strong. Even the Head of the Intelligence Center Agency (BPI)/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is one of Soekarno's closest circles, is also seen as having a special closeness to this group. BPI as the eye and ears (read: intelligence) President Soekarno could not be separated from the target of this cleaning," said Sarah Nuraini Siregar in the book Intelligence and Power Suharto (2022).

Suharto is a figure who was hailed by students. However, when serving far from being roasted by the fire. Suharto and the new Order (Orba) emerged as anti-critic and authoritarian leaders. Those who are against each other will be dealt with soon. Terror is the main strength.

All of this is not a general secret. The military is the domain. Every time there was an explosion of resistance against the New Order, President Suharto succeeded in extinguishing it. Military compliance is the main force of the New Order. Moreover, in the era of President Suharto, military officials were loyal to defend power in all kinds of conflicts. From land grabbing conflicts to demonstrations.

Ajian memanfaatkan kekuatan militer itu berhasil. Kekuatan militer yang besar itu mampu menutup karakter Presiden Suharto yang koalnya jauh di bawah Bung Karno. Namun berkat adanya militer, khususnya AD, Suharto mampu transformasi sebagai salah satu presiden yang menjabat paling lama di dunia: 32 tahun.

President Suharto did not forget to also thank the TNI generals who often support him. He was also a person who was able to implement the Dwifunction of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI) as well as possible.

President Suharto's pro military officials fill many strategic positions in government. From legislative to judicial powers. In fact, some of them have been appointed as ambassadors who have become Indonesia's reflection in the eyes of the world.

In the Dwifunction of ABRI implemented by Suharto, there are elements of militarism and militarization. With militarism, military people, to be precise, must participate in determining the politics of the country's running. while militarizing is to place armed forces personnel in various places.

Both in government institutions and outside, namely legislative and judicial power, even in strategic and important business sectors for the state. Generals who are loyal to Suharto always get these strategic positions and various facilities. From there, various sources of corruption and arbitrariness emerged within ABRI," explained Sri Bintang Pamungkas in the book Change the Rezim for Change: Governance of the Archipelago (2014).