REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla said reports about the re-emergence of communist activities were an exaggeration.
"I think it is too exaggerated a claim that PKI (Indonesia Communist Party) would be born again. PKI is a communist force. Communism is an ideology about equality. Perhaps, people see it from a different perspective," he stated here on Friday.
Kalla argued that communism is an ideology that has failed in several countries. "The only communist country left in the world right now is North Korea and its government has also failed," he added.
"Countries where communism had originated have now become capitalist economies, such as Russia, China and East European countries. So, as an ideology, it cannot strike roots again since people have rejected it," he argued.
One of Indonesia's military figures, Kival Zen, has claimed that PKI has been revived and is ready to declare the fact in 2017.
In connection with this issue, Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he would follow it up.
"If he knows, please report where is this organization. We will follow it up," he said.
Luhut admitted that he was not aware of the emergence of PKI as claimed by Kivlan Zen. He asked the media to seek confirmation about it from him only.
"Just ask him. I have no information about it. I have many ears and eyes but have received no report about it from the intelligence agency," he said.
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