Jokowi denies being part of the PKI in today's history, March 6, 2018

Bawaslu officers in Glagah, Banyuwangi, show Tabloid Indonesia Barokah which contains an article containing slander that Jokowi was involved in the PKI, Friday (25/1/2019). (ANTARA East Java/Budi Candra Setya)

History today, eight years ago, March 6, 2018, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) denied that he was part of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). He considered the accusation illogical. The PKI was disbanded in 1965, while he was only born in 1961.

Previously, the issue of the revival of the PKI was strengthened in the early era of Jokowi's government. The narrative was supported by the increase in the sale of PKI attributes. Later, the issue of the revival of the PKI was associated with Jokowi. Jokowi is considered part of the banned party.

The PKI has a long history in the journey of the Indonesian nation. The party with the hammer and sickle symbol was once one of the elite parties in the Old Order era. The PKI was even predicted to dominate the Indonesian political arena.

Everything changed because of the emergence of the 30 September Movement (G30S) 1965. The government considered the PKI the mastermind of the abduction and murder of a number of TNI AD generals. This condition made the government suppress PKI members and sympathizers.

Anyone who has ties and is accused of being close to the PKI will be disciplined. This condition makes the PKI and the understanding of Communism as a prohibited ideology. Mainly, in the era of Suharto and the New Order (Orba). Those who have a background as sympathizers of the PKI are not given much room to move.

Portrait of the action against the PKI in Jember, East Java. (ANTARA)

Government services are limited. They have difficulty finding jobs. Sometimes the accusation of being a PKI sympathizer is released to beat back Orba's political opponents. The PKI issue then faded since the reform era. However, the Jokowi era is considered a momentum for the revival of the PKI.

The issue was directly echoed by the former Chief of Staff of the Strategic Reserve Command of the Army (Kostrad), Major General (Ret.) Kivlan Zen. The indication of the revival of the PKI is believed to have emerged because the attributes of the PKI are widely sold and used.

Later, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Jokowi were also affected. Both are considered part of supporting the existence of the PKI's rise. Jokowi was angry and immediately denied it.

"I was inaugurated as President, I hold the constitution, the will of the people. Not others. For example, the PKI is a nuisance, just a nuisance. The TAP MPR is clear about the ban. Indonesia is a democratic country as well as a legal state. If there is an exit from that corridor, the right term is to be beaten. "

"If it is diverted, it will be said that the President is not firm. If there is evidence and facts, enforce the law. Don't use other calculations other than law enforcement," said Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace as quoted by the lamankompas.com, May 17, 2017.

The issue of Jokowi being a PKI sympathizer is actually not over. Jokowi is still considered a part of the PKI. This condition makes Jokowi lose patience. He himself expressed his objection on March 6, 2018. Jokowi considers the accusation that he is a part of the PKI to be illogical.

Jokowi considers the PKI to have disbanded in 1965. He was born in 1961. However, if he is considered a sympathizer of the PKI, Jokowi was still a toddler at the time. Jokowi also asked all Indonesians to be smart in digesting wild issues. Alias, an issue that has not been proven to be true.

Jokowi also considered it normal when the slander of his PKI part flowed heavily. This condition is because it is indeed approaching the 2019 presidential election political year. His character seems to try to turn off political opponents with uncivilized ways such as the PKI accusation.

"PKI was dissolved in 1965, I was born in 1961. That means I'm only 3-4 years old. There was a PKI baby. There were people who believed. Try to be logical that it doesn't fit? There are still people who believe. This country is a big country, don't because of small things like that people are pitted against each other. That's sometimes the evil of politics there," said Jokowi as quoted by the lamantempo.co, March 6, 2018.