The New Order of Indonesia. Ten Years Later

Abstract

The present military regime in Indonesia emerged from the womb of Guided Democracy (1959-66) which was generally associated with Sukarno, although it was in fact based on an unholy alliance between Sukarno and the army leadership. The political constellation of Guided Democracy began to disintegrate after the traumatic abortive coup of 1 October 1965 which led to the killing of six top army generals. In its aftermath General Suharto launched his own coup against Sukarno on 11 March 1966 which catapulted the former into power, although Sukarno was allowed to remain as a figure-head President up to March 1967. General Suharto banned the Communist Party (PKI) on 12 March 1966, the day after the coup. With the political demise of the PKI and the neutralization of Sukarno, two pillars of Guided Democracy had fallen away. Since then the military in Indonesia had been in the hegemonic position.