US Embassy Djakarta, Joint Sitrep No. 68, Telegram 1842 (22 Desember 1965)

=== [PDF page 1] === SOME SOURCES EXPECT TERRORIST RETALIATION. NEWSPAPER [Unreadable] INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State SECRET DE RUMJBT 1842 [Unreadable] DEC 22 [Unreadable] 1965 FM AMEMBASSY DJAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1842 INFO: RUHLHG/CINCPAC PRIORITY, RUEPIA/CIA PRIORITY, RUEKDA/DOD PRIORITY, RUEPCR/WHITE HOUSE PRIORITY, RUMTBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 208, RUHPAG/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 209, RUMJDH/AMCONSUL HONGKONG 235, RUMUKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 308, RUFHDC/AMEMBASSY LONDON 266, RUMUMA/AMEMBASSY MANILA 456, RUMJEM/AMCONSUL MEDAN 378, RUFHPA/AMEMBASSY PARIS 58, RUMJSN/AMCONSUL SINGAPORE 257, RUALOT/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 251, AMCONSUL SURABAYA STATE GRNC SECTION ONE OF TWO DEC 22 CINCPAC FOR POLAD. MANILA FOR FELG/RSO. PARIS FOR NATUS. JOINT SITREP NO. 68 GENERAL SITUATION AS OF 1600 DEC 22. ON EVE OF CHRISTMAS TIME AND MOSLEM FASTING MONTH, THERE HAVE BEEN FEW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BUT REPORTS OF IMMINENT DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE. SUKARNO REITERATED HIS OUTWORN DEFENSE OF PKI IN SPEECHES DEC 21 AND 22, BUT REAL SITUATION REFLECTED MORE ACCURATELY IN BASIC GUIDE FOR CRUSHING PKI ISSUED BY GENERAL NASUTION. SUKARNO REPORTEDLY HAS PROMISED TO BAN PKI WITHIN NEXT FEW DAYS AND [Unreadable] NATIONALIST PARTY'S LEFT WING HAS BEEN BANNED, AMIDST [Unreadable] === [PDF page 2] === -2- 1842, DECEMBER 22, FROM DJAKARTA (SECTION ONE OF TWO). [Unreadable] SPEECH AND NONE FOR ABOVE DEFENSE OF PKI. GEN SUHARTO RECEIVED [Unreadable] OTHER EVIDENCE MODERATE RESURGENCE. KILLING OF PKI ADHERENTS CONTINUES IN BALI AND EAST JAVA. IN DJAKARTA SEVERAL SPECIFIC IRRITANTS IN INDO-US RELATIONS WERE FINALLY REMOVED. 1. SUKARNO AND THE PKI. A. SPEAKING TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DEC 21 ON OCCASION OF FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING OF CAMPAIGN TO RECOVER WEST IRIAN, SUKARNO NEVER ONCE MENTIONED OSTENSIBLE THEME OF GATHERING AND INSTEAD STRESSED HOW MUCH PKI HAD CONTRIBUTED TO INDO REVOLUTION. "PKI ESPECIALLY HAS SERVED REVOLUTION . . . PKI HAS PERFORMED GREAT SERVICES FOR THE REVOLUTION . . . PKI HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN ANY OTHER PARTY OR GROUP," SUKARNO STRESSED, NOTING THAT THOUSANDS OF PKI ADHERENTS HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND MANY KILLED IN ABORTIVE 1926 REBELLION, SUKARNO CLAIMING THESE PKI SACRIFICES WERE "FOR THE INDO REVOLUTION, FOR INDEPENDENT INDONESIA." NOT ONE NEWSPAPER WAS [Unreadable] ENOUGH TO PRINT THESE REMARKS, HOWEVER, AND SOME STORIES MERELY EMPHASIZED SUKARNO'S DEFENSE OF NASAKOM WHILE ARMY DAILY EVEN MANAGED TO TWIST PRESIDENT'S REMARKS SO THAT HE APPEARED TO BE CONDEMNING COMMUNISM. HE GOT LITTLE APPLAUSE DURING [Unreadable] LARGE OVATION WHEN HE ENTERED SPORTS HALL AND SUKARNO INVITED SUHARTO AND LEIMENA TO SIT BESIDE HIM ALTHOUGH SUBANDRIO AND SALEH WHO WERE ALSO PRESENT REMAINED ON BACK ROW. B. PRESIDENT REPEATED SAME THEMES AT MOTHER'S DAY GATHERING THIS MORNING, WITH EMPHASIS ON DEFENSE OF PKI WOMEN'S AFFILIATE (GERWANI). SOURCE HAS INFORMED THAT GEN SUHARTO RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM SUKARNO DEC 17 THAT PRESIDENT WOULD ANNOUNCE NATION-WIDE BAN ON PKI "WITHIN ONE WEEK." [Unreadable] HAVE RECEIVED SCATTERED REPORTS THAT PKI MAY RESORT TO TERRORISM IN NEXT FEW DAYS AND SUHARTO HAS ASSIGNED ARMY BODYGUARDS TO KEY OFFICIALS (COMMENT: [Unreadable]). PKI CAPABILITY TO CAUSE WIDESPREAD TROUBLE BELIEVED TO BE VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED BUT SOME LOCALIZED INCIDENTS COULD FOLLOW DEFINITIVE BAN ON PARTY. PRESENT MAGIC DATES ARE DEC 24 -- BEGINNING OF MOSLEM FASTING MONTH -- AND JAN 1. [Unreadable] VIEW OF SUKARNO'S [Unreadable] === [PDF page 3] === -3- 1842, DECEMBER 22, FROM DJAKARTA (SECTION ONE OF TWO). [Unreadable] CONTINUING PUBLIC DEFENSE OF PKI (PARA 1.A.), EMBASSY REMAINS SKEPTICAL THAT HE WILL PERSONALLY PRONOUNCE BAN ON PARTY. [Unreadable] C. SUKARNO'S REPEATED AND POINTED CALLS FOR STOPPING PERSECUTION OF COMMUNISTS. MILITARY AND POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ARE NOT EVEN PAYING LIP SERVICE TO THIS REQUEST. 2. GEN NASUTION DEC 21 ISSUED VERBOSE "BASIC GUIDE" FOR CRUSHING PKI. INSTRUCTION STATED: (I) ALL ELEMENTS OF PKI MUST BE EXPELLED FROM STATE BODIES AND MUST BE ISOLATED SO THAT THEY CANNOT REAPPEAR; (II) PURGES MUST BE CARRIED OUT QUICKLY AND CONFIDENTLY SO THAT MOMENTUM CAN BE MAINTAINED AND PKI PREVENTED FROM CREATING COVER ORGANIZATIONS OR INFILTRATING ITS SYMPATHIZERS INTO STATE APPARATUS OR OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES; AND (III) EACH ARMED FORCE IS PERMITTED TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN MECHANISM FOR DEALING WITH PKI BUT WEEKLY AND MONTHLY REPORTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO NASUTION. 3. A. EAST JAVA BRANCH CONFERENCE OF MOSLEM NU PARTY HAS PASSED RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT OF TERM "LEFTIST" (?) "REVOLUTION" WITH "PANTJASILA REVOLUTION," PURGE OF PKI SYMPATHIZERS FROM CABINET AND, EARLY ON, PARTY, BY END OF YEAR, AND "REVISION" [Unreadable] DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA. (SURABAYA CONTEL-53). B. WEST IRIAN CAMPAIGN RALLY HELD IN BANDUNG DEC 19 UNDER SPONSORSHIP MULTI-PARTY "ACTION COMMAND TO CRUSH 30 SEPT MOVEMENT" ALSO CALLED FOR PURGE OF CABINET AND PROTESTED "SLANDER AND INSTIGATIONS" LAUNCHED BY RADIO PEKING. 4. IN ONE OF MOST SURPRISING CHALLENGES TO SUKARNO'S LONG HABIT OF GOVERNMENT BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE, APPOINTIVE PARLIAMENT DEC 21 VIRTUALLY DEFIED PRESIDENT AND ORDERED THAT 1966 BUDGET NOT BE PROMULGATED AS DECREE. PARLIAMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT CALLED UPON GOI TO SUBMIT BUDGET AS BILL TO PARLIAMENT FOR REVIEW AND PROMISED QUICK ACTION. BUDGET WAS ACCORDINGLY SUBMITTED AND PARLIAMENT PROMPTLY ASKED EXECUTIVE FOR MORE INFORMATION. ONE ARMY-CONTROLLED PAPER TODAY REFERRED TO NASUTION [Unreadable] === [PDF page 4] === [Unreadable] ADVANCE COPY TO S/S-O -4- 1842, DECEMBER 22, FROM DJAKARTA (SECTION ONE OF TWO). === [PDF page 5] === INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State [Unreadable] DE RUMJBT 1842 [Unreadable] FM AMEMBASSY DJAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC [Unreadable] DEC 22 INFO RUEPIA/CIA PRIORITY, RUEKDA/DOD PRIORITY, RUEPCR/WHITE HOUSE PRIORITY, RUMTBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 208, RUHPAG/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 209, RUMJDH/AMCONSUL HONGKONG 235, RUMUKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 308, RUFHDC/AMEMBASSY LONDON 266, RUMUMA/AMEMBASSY MANILA 456, RUMJEM/AMCONSUL MEDAN 378, RUFHPA/AMEMBASSY PARIS 58, RUMJSN/AMCONSUL SINGAPORE 257, RUALOT/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 251, AMCONSUL SURABAYA SECTION TWO OF TWO DEC 22 CINCPAC FOR POLAD. MANILA FOR FELG/RSO. PARIS FOR NATUS. JOINT SITREP NO. 68 [Unreadable] NATIONALIST PARTY DEVELOPMENTS. PROCESS OF ELIMINATING LEFT-WING CONTROL OF PNI CONTINUES [Unreadable] MOVING APACE. LEFT-WING'S ONLY PRESS MOUTHPIECE, SOKOGURU REVOLUSI, ANNOUNCED QUIETLY DEC 24 THAT NO FURTHER ISSUES WOULD BE PUBLISHED AND TODAY PRESS REPORTS PAPER HAS BEEN BANNED BECAUSE "IT WAS INVOLVED IN SEPT 30 MOVEMENT." PNI "CONGRESS WORKING BODY" MEETING, WHICH ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN LEFT-WING GAMBIT TO OUST MODERATES AND PREVENT CONVENING OF PARTY CONGRESS, HAS FINALLY OPENED IN DJAKARTA TODAY WITH ANNOUNCED PURPOSE TO DECIDE [Unreadable] === [PDF page 6] === -2- 1842 DECEMBER 22, FROM DJAKARTA (SECTION TWO OF TWO) [Unreadable] QUICKLY TO HOLD PARTY CONGRESS. (COMMENT: ALI-SURACHMAN GROUP APPEARS TO HAVE SURRENDERED TO DEMANDS OF MODERATES.) PRESS CLAIMS THAT 19 OUT OF 21 DJAKARTA PNI BRANCHES HAVE PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO PARTY'S MODERATE FACTION UNDER HARDI[...] 5. SECURITY SITUATION IN OUTLYING AREAS. A. AMCONSUL MEDAN HAS REPORT FROM WITHIN CHINESE COMMUNITY THAT ANTI-CHINESE VIOLENCE HAS OCCURRED IN PONTIANAK ON MUCH MORE SERIOUS SCALE THAN DEC 10 VIOLENCE IN MEDAN, BUT THAT INCIDENTS BEING HUSHED UP AND THUS NOT REPORTED IN PRESS. (COMMENT: MEDAN RIOTING HAS NEVER BEEN REPORTED IN DJAKARTA PRESS ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN OBLIQUE REFERENCES TO SUBSEQUENT CURFEW.) [Unreadable] B. "UNOFFICIAL HEAD OF NATIONALIST CHINESE COMMUNITY" IN SURABAYA HAS ASSURED AMCONSUL THAT DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE PROPERTY IN BALI HAS BEEN LIMITED TO COMMUNIST CHINESE AND ONLY ONE "NON-RED" SHOP BURNED, IN ERROR. BALINESE CHINESE [Unreadable] [Unreadable] 7. INDO-AMERICAN RELATIONS. HIGH-LEVEL DECISION APPARENTLY TAKEN TO CLEAN UP OLD PROBLEMS AND IRRITANTS WHICH HAVE LONG FESTERED IN OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY. EMBASSY RECEIVED PAYMENT DEC 21 FOR DAMAGE TO MEDAN AND SURABAYA CONSULATES BY DEMONSTRATORS EARLIER THIS YEAR. FIRST [Unreadable] COMMUNISTS HAVE REPORTEDLY SENT DELEGATION TO CHICOM EMBASSY DJAKARTA TO REQUEST EVACUATION. [Unreadable] EMBASSY URGED THEM TO HANG ON AND NOT TO GIVE UP. AMCONSUL SURABAYA HAS REPORT THAT INDISCRIMINATE KILLINGS HAVE VIRTUALLY CEASED IN EAST JAVA, BUT THAT PKI PRISONERS ARE STILL BEING SLOWLY RELEASED TO MOSLEM ACTIVISTS FOR [Unreadable] EXECUTION. AFTER NINE MONTHS OF STALLING, FONMIN ALSO INFORMED EMBASSY THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY OF TWO EMBASSY MILITARY OFFICERS WHICH WAS SEIZED WHEN HOUSE THEY RENTED FROM AMERICAN MOTION PICTURE EXECUTIVE WAS TAKEN OVER WILL BE RETURNED. TODAY, USIS LIBRARY BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN IN POLICE STORAGE SINCE MARCH WERE FINALLY TURNED OVER TO MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR USE BY INDO UNIVERSITIES AS INTENDED, AND FINAL ACTION HAS APPARENTLY BEEN INITIATED TO RELEASE AMERICAN MISSIONARY WHO HAS BEEN IN CONFINEMENT FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS ON VAGUE SUBVERSION [Unreadable]. UNLESS MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR IN INTERIM, NEXT SITREP WILL BE FILED DECEMBER [Unreadable]. MERRY CHRISTMAS. GREEN. ADVANCE COPY TO S/S-O, 12/22/65 10:25 P.M. === [PDF page 7] === Joint Sitrep No. 68 (Sukarno continues to defend the PKI; army continues to try to crush the PKI. The Presidium defied Sukarno on the question of budget. The Nationalist Party is purging itself of left-wing members. Violence against Chinese consulates is still taking place). Am Emb Djakarta, Telegram No. 1842, to Secy of State, CINCPAC, CIA, DOD, and White House. 2 Sections. Dec. 22, 1965. 6 p. SECRET. SANITIZED copy. Released Aug. 16, 1976. Johnson Library, NSF, Countries, Indonesia, Vol. 6. Department Of State, 22 Dec. 1965. U.S. Declassified Documents Online, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CK2349357698/GDCS?u=ucalgary&sid=bookmark-GDCS. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.