THE PATTERN OF COMMUNIST MOVEMENTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00865R000200250005-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 36
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 16, 1955
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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March 16, 1955
TIC PATTERN OF COT HtJNIST MGV'~IENTS IN SOUTIQP ST ASIA
Development of the Communist movement in Southeast Asia has to
a ;treat extent followed lines set by the Comintern some of which were
formulated more than 30 years ago. Policies of most Communist parties
in the area have been guided directly or indirectly by Moscow and more
recently, also, by Peiping. Associated in various ways ;?rith nationalist
movements and often operating under the guise of nationalism, these
parties have followed a general pattern which involved attempts to bring
all the colonial areas of South East Asia into the fold of international
Communism. Only in Thailand, which has long be-n an i.ndepcr_dent nation,
has the pattern varied to a great extent.
Most countries of the area have more than one Communist party,
sometimes because of individual differences, sometimes representing
different ethnic groups within a. country. Most of the parties are
built of a hard core of theoreticians and leaders surrounded by assorted
hangers~on who are malcontents or seekers of personal gain. Member
support comes from those elements among the overseas Chinese population
15 V
which still have strong ties with Coiiunst China regardless of the
ideological forces directing her destiny.
The hands of the Russian and Chinese Co mjunists were clearly visible
in the l920ts and the 11.,30ts, when most of the Southeast Asian Communists
worked under the direction of the Far Eastern Bureau of the Comintern.
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Their influence continued to be evident in 1948 when, after representar-
tives from Peiping, Moscow and Southeast Asia met with the Indian
Communists in February, Communist insurrections broke out in Malaya,
Indonesia, Burma and the Philippines.
Current evidence of Peipingis influence is the logistic support
given the Viet Minh in Indochina, the activities of Chinese Communist
agents in Southeast Asia, particularly among the overseas Chinese and
other ethnic minority groups, and in Burma the financing by the Red
Chinese-ctined banks of low interest loans to those who do not oppose
Comr,
.unism. Through the Soviet-controlled World Federation of Trade
Unions, Peiping supervises the activities of leftist labor organizations
in many countries of the area. Through cultural missions, traveling
businessmen, returning students and sightseeing trips, Peiping passes
on instructions where official channels such as embassies are lacking.
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THE. PATTERN .OF .C011'11 MUST MOVEMENTS IN, SOWHErASZ ASIA
COUNTS
I.
International Aspects of Southeast Asian Ccuunism
1
II,
Communism in the Southeast Asian Countries
7
A.
Burma
7
Be
Indochina
10
C.
Indonesia
3-3
B? Malaya
19
1,
The Philippines
22
F.,
Thailand
30
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THE PATTERN OF MI MIST MOVEivf+NTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
I. Inte_ernationalAspects of Movements in Southeast Asian Communism
The Third Communist International (Comintern) and Communist
Information Bureau (Cominform), have clearly stated Soviet policy
and tactics for developing Communist movements in colonial and semi-
colonial areas, The policy plays down the class struggle emphasized
elsewhere and intensifies the theme of nationalism and anti-colonialism.
Communism in Southeast Asia, appearing there in the early 1920's,
has been developed in line with this policy and under the direction of
the Comintern, Cominform and Peiping.
With these racial complexes and its pre-war colonial status,
Southeast Asia seemed an easy target for Communism. Playing national
group against European pourer and cultivating these groups, and minorities,
desires for independence, the Communists sought to divide and conquer,
Among the Communist minority groups in most countries of Southeast
Asia are Communist front organizations made up of members of the Overseas
Chinese community, The Communist groups represent a relatively small
percentage of the total Chinese population of the area but are often
well-organized and supported by Peiping,
Communist parties in Southeast Asia are composed of a small hard
core of doctrinaire Communists surrounded by a larger group of dissidents,
malcontents, social misfits and profiteers. They are drawn from all
segments of the population--peasants, proletarians and intellectuals..
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In addition to these, many of the overseas Chinese-who normally care
little about politics and are more concerned with earning a living--
follow the movement because of their strong family and cultural ties to
China, regardless of her politics. Because the Communists now control the
mainland, many overseas Chinese feel that the future lies with the
Communists. This feeling is often conditioned by their ability to trade
with the mainland,
Throughout Southeast Asia Communism encountered similar conditions,
with one major exception, Thailand. While Burma, Malaya, Indochina,
Indonesia and the Philippines were all colonies of metropolitan powers,
Thailand has been a sovereign nation for centuries. Even under the
Japanese occupation, Thailand maintained a larger degree of self-government
than have most occupied nations. Thailand has been also relatively
self-sufficient, with an adequate food supply and an export surplus in
rice, the most vital commodity of the area, But perhaps the faimierst
ownership of their land is the main reason for the different approach to
Thailand. Communism, which, among other things, feeds on exploitation
of the peasant class by wealthy landowners, on poverty and on food
shortage, has had difficulty malting much headway with the Thais, who are
well-fed and clothed by standards of the area and whose lower classes to
a large extent already own their land. Only through an alien minority,
the overseas Chinese, have the Communists been able to make anythin
but a minor dent in Thailand, and the Chinese Communists in Thailand
have become the largest alien Communist party in Southeast Asia with
the possible exception of Malaya.
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Elsewhere in Southeast Asia Communist growth has followed a single
pattern, with but minor variations. Except in Burma and Thailand,
,-,cmf-iunism appeared in the early 1920: s under the guise of nationalism.,
anti-colonialism or with a pro-labor disguise, It started among the
Thailand Chinese in the 1920'a but the appeal was different., In Burma
Communism began as a nationalist movement about 1930. The rend until
nearly the end of the decade favored formation of small groups, some
organized into parties and some into less formal groups of Marxist
extremists. In 1925 when the Comintern sent Borodin to China as its
chief agent, he took Ho chi-minh with him as an interpreter. Ho was
by then the leader of Indochinese Communism and a member of the Far
Eastern Bureau of the Comintern. In the course of his travels through
China and Thailand to organize emigre Vietnamese into Communist cells,
he brought with him the teachings and orders- of the Comintern. Ho
helped found the Communist Party of the South Seas, which had representa-
tives from several countries. In 1930 this party split into national
organizations, such as the Malayan Communist Party and the Indochinese
Communist Party.,
About this time Communism began to appear in Burma, largely as an
indigenous movement but with some impetus from Indian Communists. This
move, too, started as nationalism with leftist leanings?
From 1930 until the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific the
nationalistic trend was maintained, with the Far Eastern Bureau of the
Comintern, among others, guiding the Communists of Indonesia, Indochina,
Malaya and the Philippines1
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During World War II many Communist groups formed a "united front"
with non-Communist groups against the common foe. This was particularly
true in Burma, Indochina, Malaya anc' the Philippines, There was no
fighting in Thailand, but the Free Thai Movement in which Corstiuni.st-
inspired elements participated, did work with the Allies in obtaining
information and carrying out sabotage missions. The underground activi-
ties strengthened the Communist's hands by emphasizing the concept of
nationalist and patriotism as the major motive of these groups: In
Indochina and Burma the resistance groups participated in the post-war
governments of their countries. In ;ndochina., however, Ho and the
French disagreed over the colonial status of Indochina, and the Corrunists
organized coalition of parties known as the Viet Minh, resorted to open
warfare to gain complete control: In Burma the Anti-Fascist Peoples
Freedom League beca_te ardent advocates of full independence from Britain
and, upon attainment cf full independence in 1948, into control of the
government. But, Comriwiist leaders iwwere purged from the league prior
to independence and it is new dominated by the Socialist Party.
In Indonesia the Connnunists were not very active during the
Japanese occupation, but after the war they did join with other national-
ist groups in the fight against the Dutch which eventually led to
Indonesia's independence, Veterans of this campaign who are not in the
Indonesian armed forces and who belong to the veterans organization
PERIk3BPSI are dominated by the Indonesian Communist Party. The Indonesian
Communist Party is an example of Communist parties in foreign colonies
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which are offshoots of the Communist parties in the parent countries.
The first wide-scale Communist action to eventually dominate South-
east Asia began in 192,8. In February 1948, representatives from
Moscow, the Chinese Communists and Communist groups in Southeast Asia
attended a meeting of the Calcutta Youth Conference, Within a year,
the Commmunisto launched rebellious offensives in four countries--Burma,
Indonesia.. Malaya and the Philippines. Indochina already was rent by
open warfare. The Indonesian uprising was pit down almost im+:ediately
and the other three 1948 rebellions now have been quelled or sharply
reduced in intensity. The timing of these uprisings is regarded as
too similar to-be coincidental.
The series of defeats forced the Communists to adjust their tactics.
Wherever possible the Communists are nett playing th game of "if you
cantt lick them, join them." In Burma, although the rebellion has not
been fully put down, the Communists have joined the government in
denouncing their common op-,onents, the Chinese Nationalist troops in
Burma and have advocated the formation of a coalition government, In
Indonesia the Communists are playing the role of full supporters of the
Premier All Sastroamidjojo government, in a "united front". Insurrection
still continues in the Philippines and Malaya, although the Philippine
rebels have been virtually dei'eated,
The Chinese Peoplets Republic has diplomatic representatives in
Burma and Indonesia and with the Communist Viet IAnh regime in North
Viet Nam. Russia has representation in Thailandf Burma, Indonesia and
North Viet Nam. Communist Chinese diplomatic missions provide channels
of communications between Peiping and Communist elements in these
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countries, An additional channel is the Asian-Australasian Bureau of
the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in Peiping, representing
Coraarunist-controlled labor movements in several of the countries.
Another Peiping channel is the China Democratic League, which has active
branches In Burma and Indonesia. Overseas Chinese students who return
to mainland China for advanced study and the Communist-sponsored, main-
land cultural and sightseeing trips for leading pro-Communist overseas
Chinese provide another channel of indoctrination and infiltration.
There is no doubt that Peiping sanctions most of the Communist
activities of the area; the only Question is the degree of control, by
Moscow or Peiping. Peiping jp supplying arms to Communist groups in
Indochina, and probably some arms in Burma. The Chinese Communists in
Thailand are known to be receiving direction from Peiping, and Peiping
agents operate throughout the area. Recent newspaper reports from Burma
mention the activities of Peiping agents among the Itachins of northern
Burma,
The pattern as it now appears is one of Peiping support - under
Moscow's general direction - of Communist rovements in the area so that
they may act as a fifth column. Toning down militant activities and
feigning cooperation with existing authority wherever possible, the local
Communists act as Peiping tools boring from within. Peiping is heavily
emphasizing the wooing of overseas Chinese, that they too may act as a
fifth column and, even more important in some countries, may use their
important position in the national economy to disrupt and weaken their
host countries,
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II. C,p_u?Mism in the Southeast Asian Countries
A. 8,. "m a
Communism in Burma is reflected in a complex of parties, large
and small, strong and weak, legal and illegal. These include both
"peaceful" and insurgent groups and represent parties with basically
"national" and "international" outlooks. Adcing to the confusion are
the activities or Bu:c!~ia Chinese Cc mnunists. Several Communist leaders
were at one time members of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League
(AFPFL), the coalition heading the Burmese Government since its inde-
pendence. The AFPFL has progressively purged these Communist elements
from its fold,,
The complexity of Burmese Communism disguises its true strength and
it is this very complexity that has prevented the Communists from
realizing their fullest potential. At present only the B4~r~na Workers
and Peasants Party (BWPP) appears to serve the Communist cause in any
greater measure than a nuisance value. Communist insurrection begun in
1948 has been graatly reduced. The Communists have obtained much
propaganda value from the irritation caused by the presence of irregular
Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma, and this irritation has helped the
cause of local Chinese Communists. Agents from Red China are operating
in North Burma, in t1he Kachin State and the Shan States, attempting
to lure minority racial groups into cooperation with Red China..
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Burma, ommwj.ist Party (BCP)
One of the earliest Coimiunist groups was the Burmese Conn.,unist
Party, or Uhite Flag Communists The party grew from the left-wing
nationalist movement called the Nagani Book Club, founded in 1937
by Thakins NU, SOE and THA TTNTj These men later became the leaders
of the AFPFL, the Cormnunist Party of Burma, or CP(B), and the BCP,
respectively. They originally were associated with the Dobana Asiayons
(DAA), or Thaldns' Party, which was founded in 1930. The moderate
left program of the DAA failed to satisfy many of the Thakins, and they
formed the BCP, which in the pre-war period urged revolution as the
means to freedom. During the war the BCPi under the guise of collabor-
ating with the Japanese, worked with British authorities to create a
resistance movement, The BCP became the leading member of the league,
and the Partyts leader Thakin THAN TUN (who still heads the BCP today)
became secretary-general,
In July 1946 the 1F`PFL began. to rid its organization of Communist
elements and THAN TUN was forced to resign the secretary-generalshipi,
In October of that year the BCP was expelled from the leagrue. After
attempts to heal the breach between the BCP and the PF?FL failed,
the BCP went underg,ound and in, 1948 started a campaign of armed
rebellion which, while at present relative3,y quiet, has not been fully
stopped. In the fall of 1953 the BCP was declared illegal by the
Burmese Government.
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Communist' Party- of, Burma. (CP(B))
In February 1946 rivalry for power within the BCP between Thakin
THAN TUN rd. Thakin SOE, as well as SOE1 s insistence upon im ediate
revolutions split that party: SCE formed the CP(B) or Red Flag
Communists, InTuly 1946 the CP(B) was declared illegal and SOE
was imprisoned, Shortly afterwards both the ban and the a.mprisonr;lent
were lifted, but the ban was reimposed in January 1947 and has remained
in force since then: Efforts to reunite the BOP and GP(B) have been
unsuccessful thus far, largely because of personal differences between
TUN and. SOE.
Hume tiIorkers and Peasant Part B1,JPP
The Burraa Workers and Peasants Party is the overt Communist Party
in Burma.; It was formed in December 1950 when a groupt' headed by Thalcin
LNTIN., withdrew from the Burma Socialist Party. The B;JPP is considered the
most orthodox of the legal Cormnunist groups, the best disciplined and
the strongest threat to the stability of the present government. It
has nine rep?esentatives in the Chamber of Deputies#.
The party has a nim-aber of front organizations, the cost important
of which are the Burmese branch of the World. Peace Congress and the
Burma Trades Unicn Congress: This DTUC affiliation provides a link
between the BWPP' Moscow and Peiping. Other links with Peiping and
14oscow may exist, But such a connection is rather new in Burmese
Coiirmxnism which. $.f associate-0. with Communism in any other country
originally was closest to Indian Convnunist circles;
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overseas Chinese Communists
Local pro--Communist Chinese work mostly through the Burma Branch
of the Chinese Democratic League (CDL), an international Chinese
Communist organization. The CDL operates in Burma with the blessing
and financial support of the Peiping Embassy. Although the overseas
Chinese in Burma are not as numerous as in other countries of Southeast
Asia.. they nevertheless control important segments of the national
econosriy and could pose a throat to the Burmese Government. Fortunately
for the Bu mese, the number of hard core Communist Chinese is only a
small.fraction of the approxmately 300,000 Chinese in the country.
An important Peiping effort to woo the Burma Chinese was its
low-interest loan program financed through Burma branches of the Bank
of China and Bank of Communications. Under this arrangement.. Chinese
were allowed to borrow money at about half the going rate if they
agreed not to oppose the Communists and Communist causes and renounced
any connections with anti-Carsfiunist groups. Fans to ,schools, social
organizations and other Chinese groups have had an effect on the growth
of Communist influence in the Chinese community.
B. nc? china
In Indochinats three states are several Communist parties. In
Vietnam there is the Dang Lao Bong (Workers Party), often still called
by the name of Viet ivlinh. In Cambodia there is a Communist faction
of the Khmer Issarak. In Laos there is a Communist faction of the
Lao Issarak. (Phatet Laos), The pro-Communist factions of the Khmer
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and Lao Issarak groups (iss,~ Barak means free) are directly controlled by
the Lao Dong. There are Communist Chinese which may or may not be
organized into parties,
The Communist rebels led by Ha chi. AN have created a state
called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), which is completely
dominated by the Lao Dong Party. The Lao Dcng, established in March 1951,
is the successor to the Indochinese Communist Party. DRV and Lao Dong
officials have openly stated that no change in orientation or motivation
accompanied the change in name to the Lao Dong Party, Quoc Viet,, an
official of the lien Viet united front of "democratic parties" forming
the DRV government, stated upon the death of Stalin:
Mourning for and grateful to ComradeS alin the entire
Vietnamese people and cadres are all the more determined to
carry out President HO chi Minhts behest to learn the doctrine
of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin, apply it to concrete conditions
in Vietnam, push the resistance, wipe out the French colonial-
iste,, American interventionists, and Vietnamese traitors, and
build. Vietnam into a new democratic country advancing to
socialism,,
The Lao Don; Party is the leading and ccntrolling element of
the Lien Viet Front, HO is president of the Lao Dong and