The Basic Point

The article shows how the Ford Foundation, the State Department, CIA, and other U.S. institutions worked with American university diplomats to pursue U.S. interests in Indonesia (primarily economic; oil, minerals, etc.). They funded the education of these diplomats and set up education institutions in Indonesia to further spread American economics. Ultimately, the author blames the U.S. for the 300,000- 500,000 lives lost when anti-communists overran the government.

Summary of the Facts

The United States took interest in Southeast Asia at the end of WWII. They wanted the available resources and they wanted to implement an anti-communist government. In the early 1950’s, Indonesia consisted of anti-communists and communists. Anti-communist Sumitro, along with the PSI and the small Musjumi party, had some power in the early 50’s. However, large national support for communist Sukarmo and the PKI forced Sumitro out of power. In 1954, the U.S. responded when the Ford Foundation launched field projects out of MIT and Cornell. They set up camp and taught post independence politics and history to Indonesians that sided with Sumitro and who had political influence. Amongst them was Sumitro and the Sultan of Jogjakarta’s right hand man, Selosoemardjan. By 1962, MIT and Cornell had created a stable foundation of contacts and expertise so they passed the spotlight to Berkeley. Berkeley, aided by the CIA, trained and educated even more Indonesian students in American economics and business.

Meanwhile, trained Indonesians (trained earlier at MIT facilities and U.S. army bases) began campaigning against Communism and taught at the Indonesian Army base. (Not to be confused with the Communist PKI). Anti- communist General Yani formed a “brain trust” of generals and they started making plans to keep the PKI and Sukarmo from fully running the country. While this was happening, the U.S. was training 4000 Indonesian officers, teaching them military strategies. The army increased its economic power by controlling plantations, small industry and state owned business. They also gained political power by taking over provincial governments and by increasing their control of ministries. There was still large support for the PKI (3 million people in Java) but Sukarmo’s attempt to expand the PKI militia was paralyzed by the new spread of opposing power.

On September 30^th, 1965, General Yani and the five generals that composed the “brain trust” were assassinated. The PKI was blamed for the assassinations and ultimately, with the help of U.S. organized ROTC’s of Indonesian students, Sumitro and the anti- communists prevailed. (There were rumors that the anti-communists had plans of taking military action on Oct. 4 regardless of the assassinations). In the end, there were an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 Indonesians dead. The U.S.’s payoff for all their energy was economic resources and foreign investment. The article ended by saying that there was still some political unrest. –Kyle Howe