The Rise of the Indonesian Communist Party
The Indonesian Communist Party, also known as the PKI, was founded in 1920. The party was initially small and weak but gained momentum in the 1950s as it began to attract more members. Its rise was due to several factors, including its support for Indonesian independence, its opposition to Dutch colonial rule, and its embrace of Marxist-Leninist ideology.
The Sukarno Era
After Indonesia gained independence from the Dutch in 1949, the country was led by President Sukarno. Sukarno was a charismatic leader who was sympathetic to the PKI and its ideology. He allowed the party to operate freely and even included PKI members in his government. This gave the party a significant amount of influence and power in the country.
The Emergence of TII
In the late 1950s, a group of army officers formed a rebel group known as Tentara Islam Indonesia, or TII. TII was initially created to oppose the government’s decision to allow the British to maintain a military presence in Indonesia. However, the group soon became more radical and began to call for the establishment of an Islamic state. TII also embraced the PKI’s ideology and began to work closely with the party.
The PKI’s Arms Supply Network
The PKI had a well-established arms supply network that it used to provide weapons and ammunition to its members and allies. The network included a mix of legal and illegal sources, including arms dealers, sympathetic military officers, and even foreign governments. The PKI also used its own factories to produce weapons and ammunition.
Arms Smuggling and Distribution
The PKI smuggled weapons and ammunition into the country through various means, including by sea, air, and land. The weapons and ammunition were then distributed to PKI members and allies, including TII. The distribution network was vast and included PKI cells in cities and towns across the country. The weapons and ammunition were stored in secret locations known only to trusted PKI members.
TII Training Camps
TII established a network of training camps across the country where its members were trained in guerrilla warfare and other military tactics. The camps were often located in remote areas and were heavily guarded to prevent infiltration by government forces. The PKI provided weapons and ammunition to the camps, allowing TII members to train with real weapons instead of just mock-ups.
TII Attacks
TII launched a series of attacks against government and military targets in the early 1960s. The attacks were carried out by small groups of TII fighters who used guerrilla tactics to strike quickly and then retreat. The weapons and ammunition provided by the PKI were crucial to the success of these attacks. The government initially underestimated the threat posed by TII and was slow to respond.
The PKI’s Coup Plot
In late 1965, the PKI attempted to stage a coup in Indonesia. The coup failed, and the government launched a massive crackdown on the party and its allies. TII was one of the groups targeted in the crackdown. Many of its members were arrested or killed, and its leadership was decimated. The PKI was blamed for the coup attempt and was banned by the government.
The Legacy of TII
TII was ultimately defeated by the government, but its legacy lived on. The group’s use of guerrilla tactics and its reliance on the PKI’s arms supply network influenced other rebel groups in Indonesia, including Darul Islam and the Free Aceh Movement. The PKI’s role in arming and supporting TII also contributed to the government’s distrust of the party, which led to its eventual downfall.
Conclusion
The story of how TII personnel obtained their weapons and ammunition is a complex one that involves a web of relationships and networks. The PKI’s arms supply network was crucial to TII’s success, but ultimately it was not enough to save the group from the government’s crackdown. The legacy of TII and its relationship with the PKI continues to be felt in Indonesia today.