REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo stated that the regions in Indonesia remain under control and unaffected by the issue of the Communist Party of Indonesia's (PKI) return to the country.
"Observing the dynamics within the country, up until today every region appears to be conducive. There are no significant movements as thought," said Tjahjo at the Vice President Palace in Jakarta, Friday.
Regarding to remarks by military figure Major Kivlan Zein about the reappearance of PKI and their readiness to declare their return in 2017, the Minister is reluctant to respond.
"If Kivlan conveyed such an opinion, please inquire directly to him," he said briefly.
Previously, Vice President Jusuf Kalla responded by saying that the rumour of PKI's return may have been exaggerated, and that communist principles have evidently failed in a number of countries.
"I believe that it is rather that the view towards PKI reviving in the nation is excessive. PKI is a communist party and we can see that communism is an ideology that grows with equalization in the mind, and people see it from different perspectives," said vice president Kalla at the Vice President's Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
He further said that communism is a principle that had been proven to fail in many countries. North Korea is the lone country with a communist government and their jurisdiction is failing.
"Former communist countries are now transformed to becoming capitalist countries, such as Russia, China and Eastern Europe. Ultimately, it is impossible for an ideology to grow and survive when the people rejected it," he noted.
Regarding the rumor of PKI's return, Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan appears to be direct in his response.
"If he has any information on the location, we are suggesting that he pass it on to us, and we will prepare to investigate and follow through," he said. "We have yet to obtain any information on this matter. I have eyes and ears scattered everywhere, but that information has yet to reach the intelligence service," he stated.