COMMUNIST STRENGTH IN INDONESIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006200770013-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 10, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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25X1A
25X1A
25X1A URRAR 1
DATE DISTR.
10 Nov. 1950
NO. OF PAGES
3
NO. OF ENCLS.
MISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 25X1 X
The following is a coMposite picture of Communist strength in ~.' do onesia
drawn from opinions expressed by a cross section of persons in Indonesia.
These persons include a 1i jumi leader, a high-ranking APRI officer, an
important socialist leader, Chinese supporters of Sjahrir, a Dutch business-
man, and high Indonesian police officials.
1. During the last six months both the Indonesian and Chinese Communists have
enjoyed a period of increasing activity and progress in organizational
structure and membership growth and of success in extending their influence
in the fields of labor and i s youth movements
2. Rivalry between the Indonesian and Chinese Communists has lessened because
of the increased financial and propaganda assistance the latter are giving
the Indonesian leftist groups and the confidence which the Indonesian
Comlzarunists have in being able to hold their own in Indonesia. The latter
generally think in terms of Indonesian national CJommunisr while the Chinese
Communists think first in terms of Chinese Com utsi and secondly in terms
of Moscow Com>nunism. I
The following is a summary of Communist influence in Indonesia:
Labor Unions
3. The majority of labor unions are Communist controlled through the Jentra1
Organisasie Buruh Selurah Indonesia (BOBBY) in spite of the fact that the
bulk of the union members are ignorant of the ideologies involved.
4. The most important labor unions are:
Sarekat Tmuh Perkebunan Republik Indonesia (SARBUPRI) (Estate Workers
Union)
P?TSI (Textile Union)
rarekat Buruh Kapal dan Pelabuan (SBKP) (Ship and Harbor Workers Union)
Sarekat B 6 1 1Workers Union)
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO. 25X1A
CLASSIFICATiOl II _ 11o -r
. ' l.tV.,tttx~J
CENTRAL INT LIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
sYAT ~g ed t
a M 16 'F 4 C yv STRt6UYFON
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ARMY ID tw Of
Archivist of tha United States ty zee
[Next Review Date: 2008
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CENTRAL INTELmYCE' A NTIAL
Rukun Tani Indonesia (RTI) (Indonesian Peasants Union)
Sarekat Buruh Kereta Api (SBKA) (Railway Workers Union)
Srrekat Buruh Minjak (SBM) (Oil Workers Union)
Persatuan Burub Betjah (PBB) (Trishaw Drivers Union)
Prison Workers Union
Printers Unions
Some of these unions, such as the last three, are only slightly Communistic
or pink.
5. The non Communist labor movement is small and currently lacks vitality and
funds. This movement comprises only two groups, the Plarsatuan Organisasie
Btaruh (POB) (Union of Labor Organizations) and the Himpunan Sarekat2 B=h
Indonesia (HISSBI)* (Federation of Indonesian Trade Unions). Communist
labor union membership is claimed to be 900,000 as opposed to a claimed
membership of non-Communist labor unions of 20,000.
Youth Cxout
6. The Majority of the youth groups are Communist controlled. These groups
are listed in order of their importance:
OI,FTCTAI.S ONLY ncv4 A
Strength concentrated in the Solo,
Jogjakarta and Surabaya areas; member-
ship is increasing by the addition of
dissatisfied demobilized TNI soldiers
and the poorly educated classes.
Angkatan Komunis Muds (AKOMA) Strength concentrated in West Java
around Krawang and Tjikampek.
Iketar Pemuda Peladjar Indo- Pinkish group composed of university
nesia (IPPI)(tInion of Indo- and secondary school students; leader-
nesian 13tudent Youth) ship is definitely Communist, member-
ship is divided.
PPCI (also received PPMT) Now has Communist leaders.
(Federal Union of Indonesian
udents )
Peladjar Islam Indonesia (PIT) These last two groups are smaller and
(Moslem Student Youths) less effective than the other youth
groups.
lads Katholik Indonesia (MKI)
(Catholic Youths of Indonesia)
Communist youth membership is estimated at 45,000 as opposed to a non-
Communist youth membership of 15,000.
7.
Parliament
There are 17 factions, 2 fronts, 1 block, and 4 groups in Parliament.
There are 238 members, 9 of whom have not yet been inaugurated. Some
members belong to two factions.
('- U.S. OFFICIALS OMT
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-=CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
8. Communist representation in the Parliament comprises the following:
Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI) 13 Representatives
Partai Murba 4 Representatives
Partai Sosialis (radical) 1 Representative
Leftist groups are represented in Parliament as follows:
Portal, Buruh .7 Representatives
Front Buruh 7 Representatives
SKI (coup 3 Representatives
All of the above are well organized.
9, While non-Communist representation in Parliament greatly exceeds the
Communist representation,, the non-Communists are far from realizing
their potential strength because of party dissension and the lack of a
combined offensive. Communist infiltration of Sjahr1r?s Partai Sosialis,
the divided Partai Nasional Indonesia and the differences within the
Mrusjumi contribute to this weakness.
Indonesian Array
10. The armies difficulties are primarily caused by discontented discharged
soldiers, irregular pay In nary areas, dishonest officers engaged in
smuggling and dissension between old Tentera Neional Indonesia (TNI)
officers and officers recently absorbed from the Royal Netherlands
Indonesian Army (RNIA).
11. For political reasons it is not possible at present to discharge some of the
dishonest officers who are known to be involved with Chinese smugglers. Most
of the trouble in the estate areas is being caused by discharged TNI members,
but the blame is being put on army regulars.
12. Top eschelon officers are not Communists, but maxV in the lower esehelons
have been effectively indoctrinated with Communist ideas. Army units in
the Cheribon area have been extensively infiltrated by Communists.
25X1 A ant The PKI has taken advantage of the natural aftermath of
revolution, which is not unduly extensive in Indonesia, and has made
more progress than its efforts deserve, mainly because the resistance
of the democratic forces in Indonesia is unorganized and weak despite
the friends the United States has in high Government offices. In addition
the international situation as regards Communism is still not fully under-
storsd by maims Indonesians in important positions.
If the Masjumi and associated groups get down to work and start reaching
the laborers and farmers there is still a good chance that the tide can
be turned. Certainly if Moslem efforts to turn the tide fail, it is not
likely that non-Moslem efforts could succeed.
25X1*`A
25X1X
Comment, the end of
July 1950 delegates representing various so-called Federations of Indo-
nesian Trade Unions met and organized a new consultative body of labor
union leaders to be called the Badan Permusjawaratan Buruh Seluruh
Indonesia (BPBSI) (Consultative Council of Indonesian Labor Organizations.
The BPBSI was to replace the HISSBI,
-TIAL
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