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{{Infobox event {{Infobox event
| title = 1951 mass arrests in Indonesia | title = 1951 mass arrests in Indonesia
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| arrests = approximately 15,000 | arrests = approximately 15,000
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Mass arrests, primarily of communists and leftists, were carried out in ] and ] in August and September 1951. Sometimes called the '''August Raid''', this was a move by the Indonesian government, led by the ], to prevent a rumoured coup by the ] (PKI) and its allies. The total number of detainees started with several hundred in early August and ended up as roughly 15,000 across Indonesia by October. Many were released without charge within days or months, but some remained in detention until the ] took power in 1952. Mass arrests, primarily of communists and leftists, were carried out in ] and ] in August and September 1951. Sometimes called the '''August Raid''', or in Indonesian the {{lang|id|Razia Agustus}} (August ]), this was a move by the Indonesian government, led by the ], to prevent a rumoured coup by the ] (PKI) and its allies. The total number of detainees started with several hundred in early August and ended up as roughly 15,000 across Indonesia by October. Many were released without charge within days or months, but some remained in detention until the ] took power in 1952.

==Background== ==Background==
The coalition in power at the time of the mass arrests was the short-lived ], which was mainly supported mainly by factions of the ] and the ].<ref name="Feith62">{{cite book |last1=Feith |first1=Herbert |title=The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia |date=1962 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca |pages=177–224 |chapter=Chapter V The Sukiman Cabinet}}</ref> It was faced by strikes and instability in the summer of 1951, violent rural banditry, internal political divisions, and tensions over the negotiations of the ] which would mean peace between Indonesia and Japan.<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news |title=REGIME IN INDONESIA FACING DIFFICULTIES. |work=New York Times |date=13 June 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=7 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> In June the Justice Minister ] also unexpectedly pardoned 950 political prisoners, including ] and a variety of suspected rebels, without consulting the army and based on his arbitrary assessment of each person and not legal principles.<ref name="Feith62" /> The outrage over this forced Yamin to resign from cabinet.<ref name="Feith62" /> The coalition in power at the time of the mass arrests was the short-lived ], which was mainly supported by factions of the ] and the ].<ref name="Feith62">{{cite book |last1=Feith |first1=Herbert |title=The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia |date=1962 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca |pages=177–224 |chapter=Chapter V The Sukiman Cabinet}}</ref> It was faced by strikes and instability in the summer of 1951, violent rural banditry, internal political divisions, and tensions over the negotiations of the ] which would mean peace between Indonesia and Japan.<ref name="NYT2">{{cite news |title=REGIME IN INDONESIA FACING DIFFICULTIES. |work=New York Times |date=13 June 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=7 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> In June the Justice Minister ] also unexpectedly pardoned 950 political prisoners, including ] and a variety of suspected rebels, without consulting the army and based on his arbitrary assessment of each person and not legal principles.<ref name="Feith62" /> The outrage over this forced Yamin to resign from cabinet.<ref name="Feith62" />

Although the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was legal in Indonesia, it was not on good terms with the government. Strikes in the summer led to tensions between the PKI and affiliated unions, and the government. In one incident at the port of ] in ] on 5 August, 150 armed men with communist insignias raided a police station and exchanged gunfire with Indonesian security services for hours, including police and members of the ].<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="SP1">{{cite news |title=Tembak Menembak di Tandjung Priok |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510806-01.1.2 |work=Sin Po |date=6 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=id}}</ref> At least six people died, including three police officers, and a number of others were wounded.<ref name="NYT5" /><ref name="NC1">{{cite news |title=Tandjong Priok geïsoleerd Leger en politie voeren zuiverings-actie uit. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095088:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=7 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI denied involvement.<ref name="Feith62" /> There were also rumours of secret planning for a coup between members of the Communist Party and representatives from the People's Republic of China.<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="Mozingo">{{cite book |last1=Mozingo |first1=David P. |title=Chinese policy toward Indonesia, 1949-1967 |date=1976 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, N.Y |isbn=9780801409219 |pages=101–2}}</ref> The incident in Tanjung Priok, and its possible connection to incidents in other cities such as a bombing in ], led the government to widen its investigations.<ref name="NYT4" /><ref name="NC1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Aanval op Priok met rode vlag ONDERLING VERBAND ? |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476143:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=7 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> The 1948 ], a conflict between the government and the Communist Party was also still in recent memory and was invoked as a reason for the aggressive crackdown.<ref name="VP2">{{cite news |title=Herhaling van Madiun-opstand door arrestaties voorkomen? Regering spreekt van complot om ministers te ontvoeren Cordon om het parlement. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208555:mpeg21:p001 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=18 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VDK1">{{cite book |last1=ven der Kroef |first1=Justus M. |title=The Communist Party of Indonesia |date=1965 |publisher=University of British Columbia |location=Vancouver |page=49}}</ref> The pro-American, anti-PRC attitudes of the Soekiman cabinet and their desire to undermine their political opponents were also major factors.<ref name="Mozingo" />


Although the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was legal in Indonesia, it was not on good terms with the government. Strikes in the summer led to tensions between the PKI and affiliated unions, and the government. In one incident at the port of ] in ] on 5 August, 150 armed men with communist insignias raided a police station and exchanged gunfire with Indonesian security services for twelve hours.<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="Feith62" /> Six people died, including three police officers, and a number of others were wounded.<ref name="NYT5" /><ref name="NC1">{{cite news |title=Tandjong Priok geïsoleerd Leger en politie voeren zuiverings-actie uit. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095088:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=7 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI denied involvement.<ref name="Feith62" /> There were also rumours of secret planning for a coup between members of the Communist Party and representatives from the People's Republic of China.<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="Mozingo">{{cite book |last1=Mozingo |first1=David P. |title=Chinese policy toward Indonesia, 1949-1967 |date=1976 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, N.Y |isbn=9780801409219 |pages=101–2}}</ref> The incident in Tanjung Priok, and its possible connection to incidents in other cities such as a bombing in ], led the government to widen its investigations.<ref name="NYT4" /><ref name="NC1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Aanval op Priok met rode vlag ONDERLING VERBAND ? |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476143:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=7 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> The 1948 ], a conflict between the government and the Communist Party was also still in recent memory and was invoked as a reason for the aggressive crackdown.<ref name="VP2">{{cite news |title=Herhaling van Madiun-opstand door arrestaties voorkomen? Regering spreekt van complot om ministers te ontvoeren Cordon om het parlement. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208555:mpeg21:p001 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=18 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VDK1">{{cite book |last1=ven der Kroef |first1=Justus M. |title=The Communist Party of Indonesia |date=1965 |publisher=University of British Columbia |location=Vancouver |page=49}}</ref> The pro-American, anti-PRC attitudes of the Soekiman cabinet and their desire to undermine their political opponents were also major factors.<ref name="Mozingo" />
==Arrests== ==Arrests==
The plan for mass arrests was agreed upon between Premier ], one or two ministers, and the Public Prosecutor Suprapto following the Tanjung Priok events.<ref name="Feith62" /> President ] seems to have agreed to it as well.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="VDK1" /> The first round of arrests was of people accused of participating in the Tanjung Priok shootout; the district was closed off to the public and roughly fifty were arrested in the days following the incident.<ref name="NC1" /><ref name="NYT5">{{cite news |title=500 SEIZED IN INDONESIA: Soldiers and Policemen Arrest Troublemakers in Sumatra. |work=New York Times |date=15 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> By 10 August, rumours were circulating of much wider arrests of communists, although it wasn't expected that the PKI would be banned.<ref>{{cite news |title=De Regering en de communisten „Merdeka": Vreemde invloed achter beweging tot stichten van wanorde Binnenkort arrestaties op grote schaal verwacht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095120:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=10 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The plan for mass arrests was agreed upon between ] ], one or two ministers, and the Public Prosecutor Suprapto following the Tanjung Priok events.<ref name="Feith62" /> President ] seems to have agreed to it as well.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="VDK1" /> The first round of arrests was of people accused of participating in the Tanjung Priok shootout; the district was closed off to the public and roughly fifty were arrested in the days following the incident.<ref name="NC1" /><ref name="NYT5">{{cite news |title=500 SEIZED IN INDONESIA: Soldiers and Policemen Arrest Troublemakers in Sumatra. |work=New York Times |date=15 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> Police thought they had identified a ringleader but were unable to link the shootout to the PKI.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Memet: Tidak tjukup bahan untuk menudah PKI |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510809-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=9 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Rumours were circulating of much wider arrests of communists, although it was denied by the government and it wasn't expected that the PKI would be banned.<ref>{{cite news |title=De Regering en de communisten "Merdeka": Vreemde invloed achter beweging tot stichten van wanorde Binnenkort arrestaties op grote schaal verwacht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095120:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=10 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref>

===Sumatra=== ===Sumatra===
On 11 August, the government enacted a curfew in ], ] under the pretext of military exercises, and started arresting hundreds of Communists and "troublemakers" in and around the city.<ref name="NYT5" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Alle verbindingen tijdens actie stilgelegd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864064:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=13 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref> The final tally was roughly 500 detainees, including leading Sumatran communists ] and ].<ref name="NB1">{{cite news |title=Grote razzia's ter Oostkust Honderden arrestaties alleen in Medan. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476147:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=13 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> S.M. Tari, editor of the paper {{lang|id|Rakjat}} was also arrested.<ref name="NB2">{{cite news |title=500 Arrestaties in O.-Sumatra. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476148:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=14 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> The detainees were all kept in a camp near Medan.<ref name="NB2" /> The majority of names of detainees were kept secret, however, and targeted arrests continued to take place in the Medan area and throughout Sumatra throughout August; the practice of closing towns while mass arrests took place was repeated elsewhere.<ref>{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Sumatra. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864067:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=16 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nog dagelijks nieuwe arrestaties en huiszoekingen in Medan. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010475360:mpeg21:p001 |work=De nieuwsgier |date=16 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Razzia ter Oostkust. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095195:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=24 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Veiligheidsactie in het Lampongse. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864074:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=25-08-1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> On 11 August, the government enacted a curfew in ], ] under the pretext of military exercises, and started arresting hundreds of "troublemakers" in and around the city.<ref name="NYT5" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Alle verbindingen tijdens actie stilgelegd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864064:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=13 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Razzia di Sumatera Timur: "Latihan" dengan penangkapan2 Tulen. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510813-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=13 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Estimates of the first raid put it at 51 people arrested, including leading Sumatran communists ] and ] and local PKI members, though the number was soon revised upwards to almost 500.<ref name="NB1">{{cite news |title=Grote razzia's ter Oostkust Honderden arrestaties alleen in Medan. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476147:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=13 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="SP2">{{cite news |title=Penangkapan2 di Sumatera Timur |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510814-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=14 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> S.M. Tari, editor of the paper {{lang|id|Rakjat}} was also arrested, as were many members of the National Party.<ref name="SP8" /><ref name="NB2">{{cite news |title=500 Arrestaties in O.-Sumatra. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476148:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=14 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> The government denied that it was targeting any particular ideological group or party; these detainees (250 or so) were kept at Camp Helvetia near Medan.<ref name="SP2" /><ref name="NB2" /> The majority of names of detainees were kept secret, however, and targeted arrests continued to take place in the Medan area and throughout Sumatra throughout August; the practice of closing towns while mass arrests took place was repeated elsewhere.<ref>{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Sumatra. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864067:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=16 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nog dagelijks nieuwe arrestaties en huiszoekingen in Medan. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010475360:mpeg21:p001 |work=De nieuwsgier |date=16 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Razzia ter Oostkust. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095195:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=24 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Veiligheidsactie in het Lampongse. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864074:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=1951-08-25 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> By 20 August some of the people from the original Medan raid were released, including Abdoe'lxarim MS, Mohamed Tahir Simatupang, Liem Tjian Tjin, Liem Kian Seng, Mohamed Junus Nasution, and so on.<ref name="SP8" />

===Jakarta===
The most high-profile arrests began in Jakarta on 16 August, the day before Indonesian Independence Day, which the PKI had threatened to boycott.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="VP1" /> Military police carried out ] of roughly 100 communists and leftists, including sixteen members of the ] who were arrested at their homes early in the morning.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="NYT1">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ARRESTS 100 RED SUSPECTS: RED REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL DISCUSS BUFFER ZONE. |work=New York Times |date=17 Aug 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=1 |language=en}}</ref> Soekiman gave a brief statement in the House on the 16th, promising more arrests but refusing to go into detail for operational reasons.<ref name="NYT1" /> Information Minister ] also kept the charges secret and alleged the a foreign power was preparing a coup in cooperation with local Communists.<ref name="NYT1" />
] ]
Among the arrested parliamentarians were Mudigdo, Tjudito, and ] of the PKI, Mustafa of the worker's bloc, Pandu, Syono and Maruto of the ], Sarwono S. Sutardjo of the {{lang|id|Partai Kedaulatan Rakjat}}, Sidik Kertopari of the ] (BTI), and independent member ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties te Djakarta. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476150:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=16 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VP1">{{cite news |title=Regering grijpt in Belangrijke arrestaties in de hoofdstad. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208554:mpeg21:p001 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=16 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VP2" /> PKI leaders ], Lukman, Njoto and ] managed to escape arrest, but further raids detained Aidit's non-PKI father, Abdullah Aidit, as well as PKI leaders ], ], ], and ].<ref name="VP2" /><ref name="NYT9">{{cite news |last1=Durdin |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIAN LEADER SEES REDS SET BACK: Sukiman Says Arrests Have Crippled Leftists--Is Sure Japan Pact Will Be Backed Communism Not Popular |work=New York Times |date=18 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=5 |language=en}}</ref> Alimin escaped to the PRC's embassy and was given asylum, whereas Lukman, Njoto and Aidit stayed in hiding for months.<ref name="Mozingo" /><ref name="Hindley1">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |pages=69–75}}</ref> ], an Indonesian-born Dutch communist who had represented the ] in the ] from 1933 to 1946, was also in Jakarta and was arrested.<ref name="NYT1" /> Senior officials Hadiomo Kusumoutojo and Abdul Rachman from the Ministry of Labour were also detained.<ref name="VP1" /><ref name="VP2" /> Many of the Jakarta-area detainees were kept in the ].<ref name="NVS1" />


===Jakarta===
The most high-profile arrests began in Jakarta on 16 August, the day before Indonesian Independence Day, which the PKI had threatened to boycott.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="VP1" /> Military police carried out ] of roughly 100 communists and leftists, including sixteen members of the ], some of whom were arrested at their homes early in the morning.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref name="NYT1">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ARRESTS 100 RED SUSPECTS: RED REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL DISCUSS BUFFER ZONE. |work=New York Times |date=17 Aug 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=1 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SP4">{{cite news |title=Pemerintah Undjuk Kekuasaannja |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510816-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=16 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Soekiman gave a brief statement in the House on the 16th, promising more arrests but refusing to go into detail for operational reasons.<ref name="NYT1" /> Information Minister ] also kept the charges secret and alleged the a foreign power was preparing a coup in cooperation with local Communists.<ref name="NYT1" />

Among the arrested parliamentarians were Mudigdo, Tjudito, and ] of the PKI, Mustafa of the worker's bloc, Pandu, Syono and Maruto of the ], Sarwono S. Sutardjo of the {{lang|id|Partai Kedaulatan Rakjat}}, Sidik Kertopari of the ] (BTI), and independent member ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties te Djakarta. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476150:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=16 August 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VP1">{{cite news |title=Regering grijpt in Belangrijke arrestaties in de hoofdstad. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208554:mpeg21:p001 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=16 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="VP2" /> PKI leaders ], Lukman, Njoto and ] managed to escape arrest, but further raids detained Aidit's non-PKI father, Abdullah Aidit, as well as PKI leaders ], ], ], and ].<ref name="VP2" /><ref name="NYT9">{{cite news |last1=Durdin |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIAN LEADER SEES REDS SET BACK: Sukiman Says Arrests Have Crippled Leftists--Is Sure Japan Pact Will Be Backed Communism Not Popular |work=New York Times |date=18 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=5 |language=en}}</ref> Alimin escaped to the PRC's embassy and was given asylum, whereas Lukman, Njoto and Aidit stayed in hiding for months.<ref name="Mozingo" /><ref name="Hindley1">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |pages=69–75}}</ref> ], an Indonesian-born Dutch communist who had represented the ] in the ] from 1933 to 1946, was also in Jakarta and was arrested.<ref name="NYT1" /> The Ministry of Labour was also raided; senior officials Hadiomo Kusumoutojo, Suprapto and Abdul Rachman were detained.<ref name="SP4" /><ref name="VP1" /><ref name="VP2" /> Many of the Jakarta-area detainees were kept in the ].<ref name="NVS1" />

]
Journalists were also arrested. Five editors from '']'' were brought in: A. Karim, Tjia Tjo Soen, Lieng Jing Chen, Lee Swie Kee and Oen Tek Hian, as well as the director ].<ref name="VP2" /> The arrested parliamentarian Siauw Giok Tjhan was also editor of '']''; the editor Kasan of {{lang|id|Indonesia Raya}} and Lie Kit of the Chinese magazine ''Cheng Lim'' were also rounded up.<ref name="VP2" /> Also arrested was the freelance journalist and former chairman of the '']'' ], as was the chairman of the Journalist's union ({{langx|id|Serikat Buruh Pertjetakan Indonesia}}) Suhardjo.<ref name="VP2" /><ref name="VP1" /> Military police also raided the offices of the ] (SOBSI, a communist-affiliated union) and of the PKI, a well as the private homes of some PKI members.<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="VP1" /> Chinese community leaders were also arrested.<ref name="Feith62" /> Journalists were also arrested. Five editors from '']'' were brought in: A. Karim, Tjia Tjo Soen, Lieng Jing Chen, Lee Swie Kee and Oen Tek Hian, as well as the director ].<ref name="VP2" /> The arrested parliamentarian Siauw Giok Tjhan was also editor of '']''; the editor Kasan of {{lang|id|Indonesia Raya}} and Lie Kit of the Chinese magazine ''Cheng Lim'' were also rounded up.<ref name="VP2" /> Also arrested was the freelance journalist and former chairman of the '']'' ], as was the chairman of the Journalist's union ({{langx|id|Serikat Buruh Pertjetakan Indonesia}}) Suhardjo.<ref name="VP2" /><ref name="VP1" /> Military police also raided the offices of the ] (SOBSI, a communist-affiliated union) and of the PKI, a well as the private homes of some PKI members.<ref name="NYT1" /><ref name="VP1" /> Chinese community leaders were also arrested.<ref name="Feith62" />


===East Java=== ===East Java===
Another several hundred were arrested in East Java on 18 and 19 August; initial accounts counted 35 in Surabaya, 40 in ], 50 in ], 20 in ] and 15 in ].<ref name="VP8">{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Java Politie vond bij een arrestant 35 kilogram goud Aangehoudenen reeds naar elders overgebracht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208556:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NC2">{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Java. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095127:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NYT6">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ROUND-UP NETS 200 SUSPECTS. |work=New York Times |date=20 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=3 |language=en}}</ref> News reports debated whether Dutch and Chinese citizens had also been arrested, as well as a smaller number of non-leftist Indonesians.<ref name="NC2" /><ref name="NYT6" /> Many journalists were rounded up in the East Java raids, including Go Tjing Hok, editor of the ''Java Post'', Goe Po An, editor of {{lang|id|Trompet Masjarakat}}, and others.<ref name="VP3">{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Oost-Java uitgevoerd Verschillende journalisten door politie aangehouden. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208555:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers : ochtendbulletin |date=18 August 1951 |page=2 |pages=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> Among the political figures who were rounded up in Surabaya were ], chairman of the regional PKI and editor of '']'', Roeslan Kamaloedin, general secretary of the Surabaya PKI, and many other local members; Soebardi, Soetomi, and a number of SOBSI leaders; and Soepardi and Cholil of the {{lang|id|Rukun Kampung Kota Surabaya}} (RKKS, Surabaya City district association, a communist-affiliated neighborhood association).<ref name="NC2" /> Heads of local Chinese organizations were also arrested, including Djie Tjhiang Than of the Red China-Indonesia Friendship Association and a number of headmasters of Chinese schools.<ref name="NC2" /> In subsequent days other communist and left-wing leaders of youth ({{lang|id|pemuda}}) organizations were located and arrested in Surabaya.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Soerabaja. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893823:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=22 August 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Arrests in East Java seem to have started on 16 August as well.<ref>{{cite news |title=Razzia di Djawa-Timur. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510818-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=18 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Several hundred had been arrested by 19 August; initial accounts counted 35 in Surabaya, 40 in ], 50 in ], 20 in ] and 15 in ].<ref name="VP8">{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Java Politie vond bij een arrestant 35 kilogram goud Aangehoudenen reeds naar elders overgebracht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208556:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NC2">{{cite news |title=De arrestaties in Oost-Java. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095127:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NYT6">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ROUND-UP NETS 200 SUSPECTS. |work=New York Times |date=20 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=3 |language=en}}</ref> News reports debated whether Dutch and Chinese citizens had also been arrested, as well as a smaller number of non-leftist Indonesians.<ref name="NC2" /><ref name="NYT6" /> Many journalists were rounded up in the East Java raids, including Go Tjing Hok, editor of the ''Java Post'', Goe Po An, editor of {{lang|id|Trompet Masjarakat}}, and others.<ref name="VP3">{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Oost-Java uitgevoerd Verschillende journalisten door politie aangehouden: Surabaya |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208555:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers : ochtendbulletin |date=18 August 1951 |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="SP6">{{cite news |title=Penangkapan2 di Djawa Timur. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510820-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=20 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Among the political figures who were rounded up in Surabaya were ], chairman of the regional PKI and editor of '']'', Roeslan Kamaloedin, general secretary of the Surabaya PKI, and many other local members; Soebardi, Soetomi, and a number of SOBSI leaders; and Soepardi and Cholil of the {{lang|id|Rukun Kampung Kota Surabaya}} (RKKS, Surabaya City district association, a communist-affiliated neighborhood association).<ref name="SP6" /><ref name="NC2" /> Heads of local Chinese organizations were also arrested, including Djie Tjhiang Than of the Red China-Indonesia Friendship Association and a number of headmasters of Chinese schools.<ref name="NC2" /> In subsequent days other communist and left-wing leaders of youth ({{lang|id|pemuda}}) organizations were located and arrested in Surabaya.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Soerabaja. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893823:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=22 August 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref>

===West Java=== ===West Java===
100 or so people were arrested in ], West Java on 17 August, though none of the figures were high-profile political ones.<ref name="NC9">{{cite news |title=Onveiligheid in het Cheribonse Evacuatie van politieke figuren uit Indramajoe. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095150:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The military police portrayed the detainees as a mix of criminal gangs, ] supporters, members of the paramilitary {{lang|id|Barisan Sakit Hati}} and communists.<ref name="NC9" /> Another 50 were arrested in ], ].<ref name="NYT6" /> 100 or so people were arrested in ], West Java on 17 August, with the support of a Mobile Brigade unit from Bandung, though none of the figures were high-profile political ones.<ref name="NC9">{{cite news |title=Onveiligheid in het Cheribonse Evacuatie van politieke figuren uit Indramajoe. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095150:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="SP3">{{cite news |title=Polisi Tjirebon undjuk gigi |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510815-01.1.2 |work=Sin Po |date=15 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=id}}</ref> The military police portrayed the detainees as a mix of criminal gangs, ] supporters, members of the paramilitary {{lang|id|Barisan Sakit Hati}} and communists.<ref name="NC9" /> They denied any link to the mass arrests in Sumatra.<ref name="SP3" /> Another 50 were arrested in Bandung, West Java on 20 August; again, the PKI and SOBSI offices were raided, with a list of local party and union leaders sought by police.<ref name="NYT6" /><ref name="SP6" />

Another 100 were arrested in West Java on 28 August, bringing the total to around 2000.<ref name="NYT3">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ARRESTS RISE: 100 More Seized in West Java-- Total Is Near 2,000 |work=New York Times |date=27 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> This time non-leftists were also arrested, including ] and members of the ].<ref name="NYT3" /><ref name="ARRESTATIES">{{cite news |title=ARRESTATIES IN WEST-JAVA. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476009:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=27 August 1951 |location=Medan |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref> Three Dutch citizens were also a arrested: Koops, F. Alewijn and W.F. van de Woestijne, leading to a diplomatic inquiry from the Netherlands.<ref name="ARRESTATIES" />


Another 100 were arrested in West Java on 28 August, bringing the total to around 2000.<ref name="NYT3">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA ARRESTS RISE: 100 More Seized in West Java-- Total Is Near 2,000 |work=New York Times |date=27 August 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> This time non-leftists were also arrested, including ] and members of the ].<ref name="NYT3" /><ref name="NVS1">{{cite news |title=ARRESTATIES IN WEST-JAVA. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476009:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=27 August 1951 |location=Medan |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref> Three Dutch citizens were also a arrested: Koops, F. Alewijn and W.F. van de Woestijne, leading to a diplomatic inquiry from the Netherlands.<ref name="NVS1" />
===Central Java=== ===Central Java===
Raids in ] province started on 19 August.<ref name="NC8">{{cite news |title=Massa-arrestaties in Semarang. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095150:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI office in Bojong in ] was raided and the police spent a full day going through its archive; most of the local trade unions were raided the next day.<ref name="NC8" /> The raids, prominent union leaders were arrested, including not only SOBSI, but the Oil workers and Cigarette factory worker unions, local PKI leaders, left-wing city councilors, and leaders of the Murba Party, {{lang|id|Partai Rakjat Indonesia}} and others were detained.<ref name="NC8" /> Chinese organizations and schools were also raided, but arrests were not made, but ten members of the {{lang|id|Lembaga Indonesia Tionghoa}}, a Chinese-Indonesian friendship association, were arrested.<ref name="NC8" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Wie in Semarang gearresteerd zijn. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893827:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=27 August 1951 |page=2 |pages=Bandung |language=nl}}</ref> On 20 August raids were conducted in nearby ] as well, where 9 SOBSI, BTI and Chinese organization leaders were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=ARRESTS IN SALATIGA. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095183:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=23 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> In ] 22 were arrested on 22 August, including more PKI members, leaders of the Sugar Worker Unions and youth organizations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Solo. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011177280:mpeg21:p001 |work=De locomotief: Samarangsch handels- en advertentie-blad |date=24 August 1951 |location=Semarang |language=nl}}</ref> Raids in ] province started on 19 August.<ref name="NC8">{{cite news |title=Massa-arrestaties in Semarang. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095150:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI office in Bojong in ] was raided and the police spent a full day going through its archive; most of the local trade unions were raided the next day.<ref name="NC8" /> In the raids, prominent union leaders were arrested, including not only SOBSI, but the Oil workers and Cigarette factory worker unions, local PKI leaders, left-wing city councilors, and leaders of the Murba Party, {{lang|id|Partai Rakjat Indonesia}} and others were detained.<ref name="NC8" /> Chinese organizations and schools were also raided, but arrests were not made, but ten members of the {{lang|id|Lembaga Indonesia Tionghoa}}, a Chinese-Indonesian friendship association, were arrested.<ref name="NC8" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Wie in Semarang gearresteerd zijn: Bandung |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893827:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=27 August 1951 |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref>
On 20 August raids were conducted in nearby ] as well, where 9 SOBSI, BTI and Chinese organization leaders were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=ARRESTS IN SALATIGA. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095183:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=23 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> On the same day raids took place in ] In ]; members of the local PKI secretariat were rounded up as well as staff at the Chinese General Association ({{lang|zh|Chung Hua Tsung Hui}}, CHTH) school and students at the Chinese High school.<ref name="SP8">{{cite news |title=Penangkapan2 di Djokja. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510821-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=21 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Local political circles tied to the government, including National Party members, supported the raids and said they must have some basis.<ref name="SP8" /> 22 more were arrested in Surakarta on 22 August, including more PKI members, leaders of the Sugar Worker Unions and youth organizations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties in Solo. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011177280:mpeg21:p001 |work=De locomotief: Samarangsch handels- en advertentie-blad |date=24 August 1951 |location=Semarang |language=nl}}</ref>


The most high-profile raids in Java and Sumatra took place in August, but they didn't end then. Mass arrests continued into the fall, and by early November the government estimated the total number of arrests as being around 15,000.<ref name="NYT7">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA RELEASES 35 HELD IN RED PLOT. |work=New York Times |date=5 November 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=2 |language=en}}</ref> The most high-profile raids in Java and Sumatra took place in August, but they didn't end then. Mass arrests continued into the fall, and by early November the government estimated the total number of arrests as being around 15,000.<ref name="NYT7">{{cite news |title=INDONESIA RELEASES 35 HELD IN RED PLOT. |work=New York Times |date=5 November 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=2 |language=en}}</ref>
Line 42: Line 54:
==Reaction and release== ==Reaction and release==
] ]
Parliamentarians were very unhappy about the detention of their members and protested as early as 16 August, when Deputy Speaker ] sent a delegation to the Premier to demand an explanation.<ref name="VP1" /> Even right-wing members who otherwise supported the crackdown objected to the House being cordoned off and members dragged out in the middle of a session, and many members of Soekiman's own cabinet had been blindsided by the mass arrests.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Durdan |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIA FACING COMPLEX PROBLEMS: INDONESIAN LEADERS. |date=14 October 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="NVS1">{{cite news |title=Sukiman motiveert arrestaties in besloten parlementszitting. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476151:mpeg21:p002 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=18 August 1951 |location=Medan |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> The indefinite detention of 16 or more members also meant that the House might not be able to achieve quorum (110 members) and carry on its business.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties brengen quorum in gevaar. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095127:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI and SOBSI also complained that their offices had been searched and called the mass arrest of their parliamentarians an open violation of democratic and human rights.<ref name="NVS1" /><ref name="VP1" /> Later in the month, the PKI accused the Soekiman coalition of falling prey to a "rising fascist ideology" akin to that which Indonesians lived under during the Japanese occupation.<ref>{{cite news |title=P. K. I. CONTRA „FASCISME". |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208562:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=27 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Other parties supported the repression or were ambivalent. Masyumi, some of whose members had been arrested, still supported the campaign overall, whereas ] of the ] said communist or Darul Islam rebels were just symptoms of deeper economic causes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Masjumi betreurt arrestaties va Islamietisthe leiders. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893827:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=27 August 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wat Sjahrir ervan zegt Rangorde uit het oog verloren. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893829:mpeg21:p001 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad : de Preangerbode |date=29 August 1951 |location=Bandung |language=nl}}</ref> Parliamentarians were very unhappy about the detention of their members and protested as early as 16 August, when Deputy Speaker ] sent a delegation to the Prime Minister to demand an explanation.<ref name="VP1" /><ref name="SP4" /> Even right-wing members who otherwise supported the crackdown objected to the House being cordoned off and members dragged out in the middle of a session, and many members of Soekiman's own cabinet had been blindsided by the mass arrests.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Durdan |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIA FACING COMPLEX PROBLEMS: INDONESIAN LEADERS. |date=14 October 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="NVS1">{{cite news |title=Sukiman motiveert arrestaties in besloten parlementszitting. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476151:mpeg21:p002 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=18 August 1951 |location=Medan |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> The indefinite detention of 16 or more members also meant that the House might not be able to achieve quorum (110 members) and carry on its business.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrestaties brengen quorum in gevaar. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095127:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=20 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The PKI and SOBSI also complained that their offices had been searched and called the mass arrest of their parliamentarians an open violation of democratic and human rights; they complained that their party was a legal one and its members shouldn't be detained without cause.<ref name="NVS1" /><ref name="VP1" /><ref name="SP4" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Tindakan pemerintah berdasarkan alasan2 njata. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510818-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=18 August 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> Later in the month, the PKI accused the Soekiman coalition of falling prey to a "rising fascist ideology" akin to that which Indonesians lived under during the Japanese occupation.<ref>{{cite news |title=P. K. I. CONTRA "FASCISME". |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208562:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin |date=27 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Other parties supported the repression or were ambivalent. Masyumi, some of whose members had been arrested, still supported the campaign overall, whereas ] of the ] said communist or Darul Islam rebels were just symptoms of deeper economic causes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Masjumi betreurt arrestaties va Islamietisthe leiders. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893827:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad: de Preangerbode |date=27 August 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wat Sjahrir ervan zegt Rangorde uit het oog verloren. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893829:mpeg21:p001 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad : de Preangerbode |date=29 August 1951 |location=Bandung |language=nl}}</ref>


The Indonesian Army was unhappy about the arrests when they began in August, because they had not been consulted about them and were expected to carry them out under a legally shaky state of emergency.<ref name="Feith62" /> The ] ] met with his Indonesian counterpart ] in September and said he was pleasantly surprised by the anti-communist attitude of the Indonesian government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minister Soebardjo naar Australië Casey aangenaam getroffen door anti-communistische houding. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000097229:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=15 September 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The United States ambassador to Indonesia, ], was a close ally of Soekiman and also reacted positively to the arrests.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Anak Agung Gde Agung |first1=Ide |title=Twenty years Indonesian foreign policy 1945–1965 |date=2018 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |location=Berlin |isbn=9783111558226 |page=183}}</ref> On the other hand, the PRC reacted badly to the accusations against them and China-Indonesian relations deteriorated significantly.<ref name="Mozingo" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ang |first1=Cheng Guan |title=Southeast Asia’s Cold War: an interpretive history |date=2018 |publisher=University of Hawai‘i Press |location=Honolulu |isbn=9780824873462 |page=63}}</ref> The Indonesian Army was unhappy about the arrests when they began in August, because they had not been consulted about them and were expected to carry them out under a legally shaky state of emergency.<ref name="Feith62" /> The ] ] met with his Indonesian counterpart ] in September and said he was pleasantly surprised by the anti-communist attitude of the Indonesian government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minister Soebardjo naar Australië Casey aangenaam getroffen door anti-communistische houding. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000097229:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=15 September 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The United States ambassador to Indonesia, ], was a close ally of Soekiman and also reacted positively to the arrests.<ref name="Feith62" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Anak Agung Gde Agung |first1=Ide |title=Twenty years Indonesian foreign policy 1945–1965 |date=2018 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |location=Berlin |isbn=9783111558226 |page=183}}</ref> On the other hand, the PRC reacted badly to the accusations against them and China-Indonesian relations deteriorated significantly.<ref name="Mozingo" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ang |first1=Cheng Guan |title=Southeast Asia's Cold War: an interpretive history |date=2018 |publisher=University of Hawai‘i Press |location=Honolulu |isbn=9780824873462 |page=63}}</ref>


The arrests were widely covered in the local and international press, not only via wire services and in the New York Times, but in the communist press, including the ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Amerikaanse pers over de razzia's in Indonesië. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095195:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=24 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The reaction generally fell along ideological lines, with leftist papers being outraged and right-wing papers supporting the measures.<ref name="NC2" /><ref name="VP8" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Kabinet-Sukiman heeft aan prestige gewonnen BRITSE VISIE OP ARRESTATIES. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476039:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=17 September 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref> The arrests were widely covered in the local and international press, not only via wire services and in the New York Times, but in the communist press, including the ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Amerikaanse pers over de razzia's in Indonesië. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000095195:mpeg21:p002 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=24 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> The reaction generally fell along ideological lines, with leftist papers being outraged and right-wing papers supporting the measures.<ref name="NC2" /><ref name="VP8" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Kabinet-Sukiman heeft aan prestige gewonnen BRITSE VISIE OP ARRESTATIES. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476039:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=17 September 1951 |location=Medan |language=nl}}</ref>
Line 50: Line 62:
The mass arrests in August surprised the Communist Party and its affiliated organizations and seemingly neutered their ability to react.<ref name="NYT6" /><ref name="NYT4">{{cite news |title=REDS IN INDONESIA QUIET ON ARRESTS: Expected Reactions to Roundup Fail to Develop Left, Groups Shift to Right Hundreds Released Fail to Understand Tactics. |work=New York Times |date=15 Oct 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=3 |language=en}}</ref> Aidit and the other leaders who were in hiding did spend the time studying Indonesian politics and revised the party's strategies.<ref name="Hindley1" /> The repression also led to some trade unions to distance themselves from the Communist Party, although the majority remained affiliated; the PKI also remained politically isolated from the other left-wing parties in the House.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Durban |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIAN LABOR LOOSENS RED GRIP: Communists Still Dominating Unions but New Defections Reduce Party's Margin Non-Reds Control Others Causing Stoppages |work=New York Times |date=20 October 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=2 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> By late August, many of the affiliated unions were holding protests against the continuing detention of PKI and union leaders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Protesten tegen arrestaties. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208562:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin. |date=27 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> SOBSI later claimed that 3000 of its leaders and members were arrested in the sweeps.<ref name="Hindley2">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |page=108}}</ref> The PKI also moderated its agrarian policy and stopped supporting armed activity within Indonesia as a result of the arrests, but the detentions did not slow the rapid growth of the party in the early 1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Feith |first1=Herbert |title=The Wilopo Cabinet, 1952-1953 A Turning Point in Post-Revolutionary Indonesia |date=2009 |publisher=Equinox |isbn=9786028397155 |page=103}}</ref><ref name="VDK1" /> The mass arrests in August surprised the Communist Party and its affiliated organizations and seemingly neutered their ability to react.<ref name="NYT6" /><ref name="NYT4">{{cite news |title=REDS IN INDONESIA QUIET ON ARRESTS: Expected Reactions to Roundup Fail to Develop Left, Groups Shift to Right Hundreds Released Fail to Understand Tactics. |work=New York Times |date=15 Oct 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=3 |language=en}}</ref> Aidit and the other leaders who were in hiding did spend the time studying Indonesian politics and revised the party's strategies.<ref name="Hindley1" /> The repression also led to some trade unions to distance themselves from the Communist Party, although the majority remained affiliated; the PKI also remained politically isolated from the other left-wing parties in the House.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Durban |first1=Tillman |title=INDONESIAN LABOR LOOSENS RED GRIP: Communists Still Dominating Unions but New Defections Reduce Party's Margin Non-Reds Control Others Causing Stoppages |work=New York Times |date=20 October 1951 |location=New York, N.Y. |page=2 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> By late August, many of the affiliated unions were holding protests against the continuing detention of PKI and union leaders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Protesten tegen arrestaties. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011208562:mpeg21:p002 |work=De vrije pers: ochtendbulletin. |date=27 August 1951 |location=Surabaya |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> SOBSI later claimed that 3000 of its leaders and members were arrested in the sweeps.<ref name="Hindley2">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |page=108}}</ref> The PKI also moderated its agrarian policy and stopped supporting armed activity within Indonesia as a result of the arrests, but the detentions did not slow the rapid growth of the party in the early 1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Feith |first1=Herbert |title=The Wilopo Cabinet, 1952-1953 A Turning Point in Post-Revolutionary Indonesia |date=2009 |publisher=Equinox |isbn=9786028397155 |page=103}}</ref><ref name="VDK1" />
] ]
Some of the detainees were released within days due to a lack of evidence against them, but others were held without charge for several months or even a year.<ref name="NYT4" /> By late September, parliamentarians were tiring of the indefinite internment of so many citizens and an ] was put to the government about it.<ref name="JB1">{{cite news |title=VRAGEN OVER ARRESTATIES: Interpellatie-voorstel bij parlement ingediend. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864096:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=22-09-1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> ], a lawyer and parliamentarian representing ] who put forward the interpellation, noted that people who had been foot soldiers in the ] in 1949 who had been held without charge for a year and a half and received an apology upon their release.<ref name="JB1" /> He worried that hundreds of people had been held in Jakarta arrests since August and none had been convicted yet, due to the weak legal basis for their arrest.<ref>{{cite news |title=„Onrust onder de hevolhtng“ Interpellatie-voorstel in Parlement aanvaard „Honderden beroofd van hun vrijhei zonder krachtige rechtsgronden“. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893853:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad : de Preangerbode |date=27 September 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Soekiman formally answered in mid-October, replying that the government had to take those preventive measures to stop a fifth column from infiltrating and destabilizing the country.<ref>{{cite news |title=De interpellatie over de arrestaties Premier Sukiman: Wij moeten paraaf zijn voor vijfde colonne. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010475458:mpeg21:p002 |work=De nieuwsgier |date=17 October 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref> Tan Po Goan found the answer incomplete and asked for a more detailed response from the government about which cases it felt entitled to act outside the law.<ref name="JB2">{{cite news |title=INTERPELLATIE OVER ARRESTATIES: Regeringsantwoord niet bevredigend geacht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864117:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode : nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=20 October 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> He called their detention policies "Made in Holland".<ref name="JB2" /> Some of the detainees were released within days due to a lack of evidence against them, but others were held without charge for several months or even a year.<ref name="NYT4" /> By late September, parliamentarians were tiring of the indefinite internment of so many citizens and an ] was put to the government about it.<ref name="JB1">{{cite news |title=VRAGEN OVER ARRESTATIES: Interpellatie-voorstel bij parlement ingediend. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864096:mpeg21:p001 |work=Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=1951-09-22 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="Feith62" /> ], a lawyer and parliamentarian representing ] who put forward the interpellation, noted that people who had been foot soldiers in the ] in 1949 who had been held without charge for a year and a half and received an apology upon their release.<ref name="JB1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Usul interpelasi Mr. Tan Po Goan c.s. |url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/sea/newspapers/snpo19510922-01.1.1 |work=Sin Po |date=22 September 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=1 |language=id}}</ref> He worried that hundreds of people had been held in Jakarta arrests since August and none had been convicted yet, due to the weak legal basis for their arrest.<ref>{{cite news |title="Onrust onder de hevolhtng" Interpellatie-voorstel in Parlement aanvaard "Honderden beroofd van hun vrijhei zonder krachtige rechtsgronden". |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010893853:mpeg21:p002 |work=Algemeen Indisch dagblad : de Preangerbode |date=27 September 1951 |location=Bandung |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Soekiman formally answered in mid-October, replying that the government had to take those preventive measures to stop a fifth column from infiltrating and destabilizing the country.<ref>{{cite news |title=De interpellatie over de arrestaties Premier Sukiman: Wij moeten paraaf zijn voor vijfde colonne. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010475458:mpeg21:p002 |work=De nieuwsgier |date=17 October 1951 |location=Jakarta |language=nl}}</ref> Tan Po Goan found the answer incomplete and asked for a more detailed response from the government about the basis on which it felt entitled to act outside the law.<ref name="JB2">{{cite news |title=INTERPELLATIE OVER ARRESTATIES: Regeringsantwoord niet bevredigend geacht. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864117:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode : nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=20 October 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> He called their detention policies "Made in Holland".<ref name="JB2" />


Soekiman replied once again that the government had to continue to act to stop destructive elements which were present in society.<ref name="NC10">{{cite news |title=Premier Soekiman verdedigt de stelling: Regering dient niet steeds te handelen onder sanctie van wetsartikelen. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099747:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 October 1951. |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> He said that circumstances were not normal, so governments could not rely completely on the law, but should instead use it as a guide.<ref name="NC10" /> He claimed that anyone who was innocent would be released immediately and that the Attorney General had access to proof that had not yet been made public.<ref name="NC10" /> He also noted that the detainees had been prevented from being committing any crimes during those months and asked the critical parliamentarians if they should just sit and wait for a coup d'état to take place.<ref name="NC10" /> Soekiman replied once again that the government had to continue to act to stop destructive elements which were present in society.<ref name="NC10">{{cite news |title=Premier Soekiman verdedigt de stelling: Regering dient niet steeds te handelen onder sanctie van wetsartikelen. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099747:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=22 October 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> He said that circumstances were not normal, so governments could not rely completely on the law, but should instead use it as a guide.<ref name="NC10" /> He claimed that anyone who was innocent would be released immediately and that the Attorney General had access to proof that had not yet been made public.<ref name="NC10" /> He also noted that the detainees had been prevented from being committing any crimes during those months and asked the critical parliamentarians if they should just sit and wait for a coup d'état to take place.<ref name="NC10" />


Facing further criticism, at the end of October Soekiman and his government began to claim that they had evidence of a plot to assassinate President ], Vice President ] and several ministers.<ref name="Feith62" /> However, the lack of any trials for those suspected of the plots calls into question its connection to the mass arrests.<ref name="VDK1" /><ref name="Feith62" /> Soekiman also asserted that detainees had confessed to planning a coup against the Indonesian Republic.<ref>{{cite news |title=PREMIER SUKIMAN: „Aanslag beraamd op Pres. Soekarno”. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476176:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=30 October 1951 |location=Medan |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NYT7" /><ref name="NC13">{{cite news |title=Premier Soekiman onthult samenzwering Moordaanslag beraamd op President Soekarno en Vice-president Hatta Acties tegen diverse toonaangevende figuren. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099754:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=30 October 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> He denied that the government had committed any legal excesses, and offered to send the Attorney General to personally visit every single arrest site and punish any local officials who had gone beyond their mandate.<ref name="NC13" /> He said that he regretted having had to arrest sitting parliamentarians within the House back in August, but that Indonesian government apparatuses were still emerging from a revolutionary period and had not yet reached a state of perfection.<ref name="NC13" /> Following the speech, Tan Po Goan expressed skepticism and some of the left-wing parties tried to pass a censure motion against Soekiman, but were voted down.<ref name="NYT7" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Tan Po Goan: Nog geen 5% van gearresteerden zullen voor gerecht kunnen worden gedaagd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099757:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=2 November 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Regeringsantwoord over arrestaties goedgekeurd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864128:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode : nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=2 November 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref> Facing further criticism, at the end of October Soekiman and his government began to claim that they had evidence of a plot to assassinate President ], Vice President ] and several ministers.<ref name="Feith62" /> However, the lack of any trials for those suspected of the plots calls into question its connection to the mass arrests.<ref name="VDK1" /><ref name="Feith62" /> Soekiman also asserted that detainees had confessed to planning a coup against the Indonesian Republic.<ref>{{cite news |title=PREMIER SUKIMAN: "Aanslag beraamd op Pres. Soekarno". |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010476176:mpeg21:p001 |work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra |date=30 October 1951 |location=Medan |page=1 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="NYT7" /><ref name="NC13">{{cite news |title=Premier Soekiman onthult samenzwering Moordaanslag beraamd op President Soekarno en Vice-president Hatta Acties tegen diverse toonaangevende figuren. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099754:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=30 October 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref> He denied that the government had committed any legal excesses, and offered to send the Attorney General to personally visit every single arrest site and punish any local officials who had gone beyond their mandate.<ref name="NC13" /> He said that he regretted having had to arrest sitting parliamentarians within the House back in August, but that Indonesian government apparatuses were still emerging from a revolutionary period and had not yet reached a state of perfection.<ref name="NC13" /> Following the speech, Tan Po Goan expressed skepticism and some of the left-wing parties tried to pass a censure motion against Soekiman, but were voted down.<ref name="NYT7" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Tan Po Goan: Nog geen 5% van gearresteerden zullen voor gerecht kunnen worden gedaagd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIOD04:000099757:mpeg21:p001 |work=Nieuwe courant |date=2 November 1951 |location=Surabaya |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Regeringsantwoord over arrestaties goedgekeurd. |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010864128:mpeg21:p002 |work=Java-bode : nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie |date=2 November 1951 |location=Jakarta |page=2 |language=nl}}</ref>


Upon the fall of the Soekiman Cabinet in early 1952, the release of August detainees was one of the demands of left-wing parties being asked to support an incoming new government.<ref name="Hindley1">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |pages=236–7}}</ref> When the ] took power, it began to release the remaining detainees, and seems to have freed all of them during their time in power.<ref name="Hindley4">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |page=245}}</ref> Upon the fall of the Soekiman Cabinet in early 1952, the release of August detainees was one of the demands of left-wing parties being asked to support an incoming new government.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |pages=236–7}}</ref> When the ] took power, it began to release the remaining detainees, and seems to have freed all of them during their time in power.<ref name="Hindley4">{{cite book |last1=Hindley |first1=Donald |title=Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-63 |date=1964 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Los Angeles |page=245}}</ref>


== References == == References ==

Latest revision as of 20:24, 19 December 2024

1951 mass arrests in Indonesia
grainy newsprint photo of an Indonesian man standing and smiling in a crowd while a military police officer beside him is also smiling. a group of men standing in the background look unhappyParliamentarian Sarwono being arrested in Indonesian parliament, 16 August 1951
DateAugust 6 – September 28, 1951 (1951-08-06 – 1951-09-28)
Locationthroughout Java and Sumatra
Also known asAugust Raid
TypeMass arrest, Preventive detention
Motivepolitical repression
TargetCommunist Party of Indonesia leaders and members, trade unionists, leftists, other politicians
PerpetratorGovernment of Indonesia, Soekiman Cabinet, Indonesian National Armed Forces
Arrestsapproximately 15,000

Mass arrests, primarily of communists and leftists, were carried out in Java and Sumatra in August and September 1951. Sometimes called the August Raid, or in Indonesian the Razia Agustus (August Razzia), this was a move by the Indonesian government, led by the Soekiman Cabinet, to prevent a rumoured coup by the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and its allies. The total number of detainees started with several hundred in early August and ended up as roughly 15,000 across Indonesia by October. Many were released without charge within days or months, but some remained in detention until the Wilopo Cabinet took power in 1952.

Background

The coalition in power at the time of the mass arrests was the short-lived Soekiman Cabinet, which was mainly supported by factions of the Indonesian National Party and the Masyumi Party. It was faced by strikes and instability in the summer of 1951, violent rural banditry, internal political divisions, and tensions over the negotiations of the Treaty of San Francisco which would mean peace between Indonesia and Japan. In June the Justice Minister Mohammad Yamin also unexpectedly pardoned 950 political prisoners, including Chairul Saleh and a variety of suspected rebels, without consulting the army and based on his arbitrary assessment of each person and not legal principles. The outrage over this forced Yamin to resign from cabinet.

Although the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was legal in Indonesia, it was not on good terms with the government. Strikes in the summer led to tensions between the PKI and affiliated unions, and the government. In one incident at the port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta on 5 August, 150 armed men with communist insignias raided a police station and exchanged gunfire with Indonesian security services for hours, including police and members of the Brimob. At least six people died, including three police officers, and a number of others were wounded. The PKI denied involvement. There were also rumours of secret planning for a coup between members of the Communist Party and representatives from the People's Republic of China. The incident in Tanjung Priok, and its possible connection to incidents in other cities such as a bombing in Bogor, led the government to widen its investigations. The 1948 Madiun Affair, a conflict between the government and the Communist Party was also still in recent memory and was invoked as a reason for the aggressive crackdown. The pro-American, anti-PRC attitudes of the Soekiman cabinet and their desire to undermine their political opponents were also major factors.

Arrests

The plan for mass arrests was agreed upon between Prime Minister Soekiman Wirjosandjojo, one or two ministers, and the Public Prosecutor Suprapto following the Tanjung Priok events. President Sukarno seems to have agreed to it as well. The first round of arrests was of people accused of participating in the Tanjung Priok shootout; the district was closed off to the public and roughly fifty were arrested in the days following the incident. Police thought they had identified a ringleader but were unable to link the shootout to the PKI. Rumours were circulating of much wider arrests of communists, although it was denied by the government and it wasn't expected that the PKI would be banned.

Sumatra

On 11 August, the government enacted a curfew in Medan, North Sumatra under the pretext of military exercises, and started arresting hundreds of "troublemakers" in and around the city. Estimates of the first raid put it at 51 people arrested, including leading Sumatran communists Abdoe'lxarim MS and Jusuf Ajitorop and local PKI members, though the number was soon revised upwards to almost 500. S.M. Tari, editor of the paper Rakjat was also arrested, as were many members of the National Party. The government denied that it was targeting any particular ideological group or party; these detainees (250 or so) were kept at Camp Helvetia near Medan. The majority of names of detainees were kept secret, however, and targeted arrests continued to take place in the Medan area and throughout Sumatra throughout August; the practice of closing towns while mass arrests took place was repeated elsewhere. By 20 August some of the people from the original Medan raid were released, including Abdoe'lxarim MS, Mohamed Tahir Simatupang, Liem Tjian Tjin, Liem Kian Seng, Mohamed Junus Nasution, and so on.

A photo of Indonesian parliamentarian Sarwono S. Sutardjo being arrested in parliament 16 August 1951

Jakarta

The most high-profile arrests began in Jakarta on 16 August, the day before Indonesian Independence Day, which the PKI had threatened to boycott. Military police carried out preventive detention of roughly 100 communists and leftists, including sixteen members of the Provisional House of Representatives, some of whom were arrested at their homes early in the morning. Soekiman gave a brief statement in the House on the 16th, promising more arrests but refusing to go into detail for operational reasons. Information Minister Arnold Mononutu also kept the charges secret and alleged the a foreign power was preparing a coup in cooperation with local Communists.

Among the arrested parliamentarians were Mudigdo, Tjudito, and Djokosoedjono of the PKI, Mustafa of the worker's bloc, Pandu, Syono and Maruto of the Murba Party, Sarwono S. Sutardjo of the Partai Kedaulatan Rakjat, Sidik Kertopari of the Peasants Front of Indonesia (BTI), and independent member Siauw Giok Tjhan. PKI leaders Alimin, Lukman, Njoto and D. N. Aidit managed to escape arrest, but further raids detained Aidit's non-PKI father, Abdullah Aidit, as well as PKI leaders Peris Pardede, Tan Ling Djie, Karsono Werdojo, and Sakirman. Alimin escaped to the PRC's embassy and was given asylum, whereas Lukman, Njoto and Aidit stayed in hiding for months. Rustam Effendi, an Indonesian-born Dutch communist who had represented the Communist Party of the Netherlands in the House of Representatives of the Netherlands from 1933 to 1946, was also in Jakarta and was arrested. The Ministry of Labour was also raided; senior officials Hadiomo Kusumoutojo, Suprapto and Abdul Rachman were detained. Many of the Jakarta-area detainees were kept in the Cipinang Penitentiary Institution.

Front page of Sin Po on 16 August covering the arrest of its editors

Journalists were also arrested. Five editors from Sin Po were brought in: A. Karim, Tjia Tjo Soen, Lieng Jing Chen, Lee Swie Kee and Oen Tek Hian, as well as the director Ang Jan Goan. The arrested parliamentarian Siauw Giok Tjhan was also editor of Harian Rakjat; the editor Kasan of Indonesia Raya and Lie Kit of the Chinese magazine Cheng Lim were also rounded up. Also arrested was the freelance journalist and former chairman of the Persatuan Tionghoa Indonesia Liem Koen Hian, as was the chairman of the Journalist's union (Indonesian: Serikat Buruh Pertjetakan Indonesia) Suhardjo. Military police also raided the offices of the Central All-Indonesian Workers Organization (SOBSI, a communist-affiliated union) and of the PKI, a well as the private homes of some PKI members. Chinese community leaders were also arrested.

East Java

Arrests in East Java seem to have started on 16 August as well. Several hundred had been arrested by 19 August; initial accounts counted 35 in Surabaya, 40 in Bojonegoro, 50 in Madiun, 20 in Kediri and 15 in Malang. News reports debated whether Dutch and Chinese citizens had also been arrested, as well as a smaller number of non-leftist Indonesians. Many journalists were rounded up in the East Java raids, including Go Tjing Hok, editor of the Java Post, Goe Po An, editor of Trompet Masjarakat, and others. Among the political figures who were rounded up in Surabaya were Oloan Hutapea, chairman of the regional PKI and editor of Bintang Merah, Roeslan Kamaloedin, general secretary of the Surabaya PKI, and many other local members; Soebardi, Soetomi, and a number of SOBSI leaders; and Soepardi and Cholil of the Rukun Kampung Kota Surabaya (RKKS, Surabaya City district association, a communist-affiliated neighborhood association). Heads of local Chinese organizations were also arrested, including Djie Tjhiang Than of the Red China-Indonesia Friendship Association and a number of headmasters of Chinese schools. In subsequent days other communist and left-wing leaders of youth (pemuda) organizations were located and arrested in Surabaya.

West Java

100 or so people were arrested in Cirebon, West Java on 17 August, with the support of a Mobile Brigade unit from Bandung, though none of the figures were high-profile political ones. The military police portrayed the detainees as a mix of criminal gangs, Darul Islam rebellion supporters, members of the paramilitary Barisan Sakit Hati and communists. They denied any link to the mass arrests in Sumatra. Another 50 were arrested in Bandung, West Java on 20 August; again, the PKI and SOBSI offices were raided, with a list of local party and union leaders sought by police.

Another 100 were arrested in West Java on 28 August, bringing the total to around 2000. This time non-leftists were also arrested, including Muhammad Isa Anshary and members of the Masyumi Party. Three Dutch citizens were also a arrested: Koops, F. Alewijn and W.F. van de Woestijne, leading to a diplomatic inquiry from the Netherlands.

Central Java

Raids in Central Java province started on 19 August. The PKI office in Bojong in Semarang was raided and the police spent a full day going through its archive; most of the local trade unions were raided the next day. In the raids, prominent union leaders were arrested, including not only SOBSI, but the Oil workers and Cigarette factory worker unions, local PKI leaders, left-wing city councilors, and leaders of the Murba Party, Partai Rakjat Indonesia and others were detained. Chinese organizations and schools were also raided, but arrests were not made, but ten members of the Lembaga Indonesia Tionghoa, a Chinese-Indonesian friendship association, were arrested.

On 20 August raids were conducted in nearby Salatiga as well, where 9 SOBSI, BTI and Chinese organization leaders were arrested. On the same day raids took place in Yogyakarta In Surakarta; members of the local PKI secretariat were rounded up as well as staff at the Chinese General Association (Chung Hua Tsung Hui, CHTH) school and students at the Chinese High school. Local political circles tied to the government, including National Party members, supported the raids and said they must have some basis. 22 more were arrested in Surakarta on 22 August, including more PKI members, leaders of the Sugar Worker Unions and youth organizations.

The most high-profile raids in Java and Sumatra took place in August, but they didn't end then. Mass arrests continued into the fall, and by early November the government estimated the total number of arrests as being around 15,000.

Reaction and release

Soekiman Wirjosandjojo c.1950

Parliamentarians were very unhappy about the detention of their members and protested as early as 16 August, when Deputy Speaker Albert Mangaratua Tambunan sent a delegation to the Prime Minister to demand an explanation. Even right-wing members who otherwise supported the crackdown objected to the House being cordoned off and members dragged out in the middle of a session, and many members of Soekiman's own cabinet had been blindsided by the mass arrests. The indefinite detention of 16 or more members also meant that the House might not be able to achieve quorum (110 members) and carry on its business. The PKI and SOBSI also complained that their offices had been searched and called the mass arrest of their parliamentarians an open violation of democratic and human rights; they complained that their party was a legal one and its members shouldn't be detained without cause. Later in the month, the PKI accused the Soekiman coalition of falling prey to a "rising fascist ideology" akin to that which Indonesians lived under during the Japanese occupation. Other parties supported the repression or were ambivalent. Masyumi, some of whose members had been arrested, still supported the campaign overall, whereas Sutan Sjahrir of the Socialist Party of Indonesia said communist or Darul Islam rebels were just symptoms of deeper economic causes.

The Indonesian Army was unhappy about the arrests when they began in August, because they had not been consulted about them and were expected to carry them out under a legally shaky state of emergency. The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Casey met with his Indonesian counterpart Achmad Soebardjo in September and said he was pleasantly surprised by the anti-communist attitude of the Indonesian government. The United States ambassador to Indonesia, H. Merle Cochran, was a close ally of Soekiman and also reacted positively to the arrests. On the other hand, the PRC reacted badly to the accusations against them and China-Indonesian relations deteriorated significantly.

The arrests were widely covered in the local and international press, not only via wire services and in the New York Times, but in the communist press, including the Daily Worker and De Waarheid. The reaction generally fell along ideological lines, with leftist papers being outraged and right-wing papers supporting the measures.

The mass arrests in August surprised the Communist Party and its affiliated organizations and seemingly neutered their ability to react. Aidit and the other leaders who were in hiding did spend the time studying Indonesian politics and revised the party's strategies. The repression also led to some trade unions to distance themselves from the Communist Party, although the majority remained affiliated; the PKI also remained politically isolated from the other left-wing parties in the House. By late August, many of the affiliated unions were holding protests against the continuing detention of PKI and union leaders. SOBSI later claimed that 3000 of its leaders and members were arrested in the sweeps. The PKI also moderated its agrarian policy and stopped supporting armed activity within Indonesia as a result of the arrests, but the detentions did not slow the rapid growth of the party in the early 1950s.

Tan Po Goan, Baperki representative in the Provisional House of Representatives

Some of the detainees were released within days due to a lack of evidence against them, but others were held without charge for several months or even a year. By late September, parliamentarians were tiring of the indefinite internment of so many citizens and an Interpellation was put to the government about it. Tan Po Goan, a lawyer and parliamentarian representing Baperki who put forward the interpellation, noted that people who had been foot soldiers in the APRA rebellion in 1949 who had been held without charge for a year and a half and received an apology upon their release. He worried that hundreds of people had been held in Jakarta arrests since August and none had been convicted yet, due to the weak legal basis for their arrest. Soekiman formally answered in mid-October, replying that the government had to take those preventive measures to stop a fifth column from infiltrating and destabilizing the country. Tan Po Goan found the answer incomplete and asked for a more detailed response from the government about the basis on which it felt entitled to act outside the law. He called their detention policies "Made in Holland".

Soekiman replied once again that the government had to continue to act to stop destructive elements which were present in society. He said that circumstances were not normal, so governments could not rely completely on the law, but should instead use it as a guide. He claimed that anyone who was innocent would be released immediately and that the Attorney General had access to proof that had not yet been made public. He also noted that the detainees had been prevented from being committing any crimes during those months and asked the critical parliamentarians if they should just sit and wait for a coup d'état to take place.

Facing further criticism, at the end of October Soekiman and his government began to claim that they had evidence of a plot to assassinate President Sukarno, Vice President Mohammed Hatta and several ministers. However, the lack of any trials for those suspected of the plots calls into question its connection to the mass arrests. Soekiman also asserted that detainees had confessed to planning a coup against the Indonesian Republic. He denied that the government had committed any legal excesses, and offered to send the Attorney General to personally visit every single arrest site and punish any local officials who had gone beyond their mandate. He said that he regretted having had to arrest sitting parliamentarians within the House back in August, but that Indonesian government apparatuses were still emerging from a revolutionary period and had not yet reached a state of perfection. Following the speech, Tan Po Goan expressed skepticism and some of the left-wing parties tried to pass a censure motion against Soekiman, but were voted down.

Upon the fall of the Soekiman Cabinet in early 1952, the release of August detainees was one of the demands of left-wing parties being asked to support an incoming new government. When the Wilopo Cabinet took power, it began to release the remaining detainees, and seems to have freed all of them during their time in power.

References

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