The Indonesian Coup September 1965: A Discussion from Bipolarity Structure

This article discusses the Indonesian Coup 1965 from the bipolarity international political structure (Cold War). Power rivalry between the communist-socialist and democratic-capitalist during the Cold War period (bipolarity structure) had resulted the Indonesian Coup 1965. The ‘new order’ Indonesian administration emerged after the coup, replaced the ‘old order’ administration under President Sukarno. The different political philosophy and ideology of ‘new order’ under President Suharto shifted the Indonesian foreign policy from previously leaning against the East power to West power (democratic-capitalist). The domestic political changes after the Indonesian Coup 1965 contributed to the peaceful and harmonious relations with Malaysia and other capitalist state in the South East Asian region. The Indonesian ‘new order’ administration had paved the way to the formation of ASEAN in August 1967 and the creation of South East Asia regional stability.


Introduction
The Indonesian Coup of 1965 or GESTAPU (Gerakan tiga puluh September, or 30 th September Movement) was a significant event in politics and ideological changes in Indonesia. The event had transformed the politics of Indonesian from the 'old order' administration (under Sukarno with Communist influence) to the 'new order' administration under President Suharto and was pro-West government. Indonesian 'Gestapu' was also important because this event changed the regional political structure in Southeast Asian region and paved the way to the formation of strong regional organization, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). After the formation of ASEAN in August 1967, a new type of relationship between Malaysia-Indonesian and other pro-American countries in South East Asia (ASEAN members) began. There are two versions of Indonesian Coup 1965; the version I (the communist action) and version II (the Army and Pro-United States action). Both versions will be discussed in turn.

Indonesian Coup 1965, Version I
Communist Action: According to this version the Indonesian Coup of 1965 was a communist strategy to gain power in Indonesia. A few weeks before the 'Gestapu' event, President Sukarno's health was very poor. The communists took a prompt action before the army took power from President Sukarno.
On the midnight of 30 th September 1965 "progressive, revolutionary" military officers backed by the Communist (PKI) leadership, the so-called 'Gestapu,' (September 30 th Movement) were involved in the kidnapping and murder of six generals of the Indonesian army (Mahmud, 2000, pp. 212-213). General Suharto and Nasution who escaped death (Suharto not being on the priority list and Nasution being wounded) rallied opposition forces and put down the coup.

Singapore Withdrawal from Malaysian Federation in August 1965: Impact to the Western Strategy and Relations to the Version II (The Possibility of Ejection of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysian Federation)
The ejection of Singapore from the Malaysian Federation in August 1965 made an upon impact the American decision in Indonesia in September 1965. President Sukarno argued that the ejection of Singapore in August 1965 would have destroyed the Federation of Malaysia from inside. It meant that after Singapore's ejection it would be followed by the other part of the federation. The most probable parts of the Federation of Malaysia to follow Singapore's decision were Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo Island (Kroef, 1965, p. 574). The political development in both parts of Malaysia (the political development in Sabah and Sarawak) in 1965 supported the logic of that argument. The majority of the population in Sabah and Sarawak were not Malays (native people in Sabah and Sarawak were different in certain aspect with the Malays in the Federation of Malaya). The Chinese and non-Malays were the majority population in the both states.
The American strategy and its decision on Indonesian on 30 th September 1965 affected the political development in Malaysia, especially the ejection of Singapore and would probably have been followed by Sabah and Sarawak. Sukarno's regime would support the ejection of Sabah and Sarawak from the Malaysian Federation (Mahmud, 2000, pp. 204-208). The Americans must control Indonesian government before the Federation of Malaysia was destroyed from inside. The situation would become more difficult for American strategy without pro-American government in Indonesia.

Ideological Factor, Political Upheaval and the Changes in Political Relations
The ideological is a vital factor in understanding the foreign policy and political relations of a state. During the Cold War period, this factor in certain situations became the most important and led to the other related factors. The ideological stance of a state will determine the position in the systemic structure. It is important in understanding the foreign relations and intra-state political relations. The changes of a domestic political ideology would contribute to the domestic political upheaval. The ideological political upheaval generally contributes to the changed pattern of foreign relations and political relations. The relationship and mutual impact of the ideological factor, domestic political upheaval, foreign policy decision and political relations can be seen clearly in the Indonesia and the Indonesia-Malaysia political relations in the second half of the 1960s. The changes in the Indonesian domestic politics after 1965 had influenced the Indonesian foreign policy. Indonesian bilateral relations with Malaysia and other pro-West countries in South East Asia improved dramatically after 1965.

Indonesian Domestic Politics and Ideological Development after 1967
Indonesian political development after 1967 was dominated by the new ideological rising in the Indonesian government. The event on 30 th September 1965 gave great chances for the democracy-capitalist military group to control Indonesian politics. The democracy-capitalist military group defeated the socialist-communist groups. In 1965 the Indonesia army was split into two camps. The first group was loyal to the army commander General Yani who was reluctant to challenge President Sukarno's policy of national unity in alliance with PKI. The second army group was the right wing who opposed General Yani's group and Sukarno's policies alliance with the communists (Crouch, 1978, pp. 79-80). The second group was anti-communist and pro-America led by www.ccsenet.org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 10, No. 6;2014 3 General Nasution and Suharto. On 30 September 1965 General Yani and his inner circle of generals were murdered. Four of the six pro-General Yani leadership were killed on mid-night of 30 th September (Scott, 1985, p. 241). No-one of anti-President Sukarno's army group were killed and targeted by Gestapu, with the exception of General Nasution. General Nasution was able to escape, while his daughter was murdered on that night.
The 30 th September 1965 was significant in understanding Indonesian domestic politics and ideological development during the second half of 1960s. Gestapu was the struggle between the two ideological rivalries in Indonesia and in the Southeast Asian region. The author argued that the rivalries were not solely in Indonesia, but in the Southeast Asian region because PKI and Indonesia was the biggest country in Southeast Asia. PKI was the third largest communist party in the world in mid-1960s after Soviet Union and China. The struggle between the left (pro-general Yani, Sukarno and PKI) and the right (Suharto, capitalist and pro-America) was closely related with the regional and international political ideological struggle. It was significant in colouring the East Asian region.
The army anti-PKI played a vital role in the 30 th September Indonesian event. Without the army's anti-PKI propaganda the massacre might not have happened (Sundhaussen, 1982, p. 219). After 1965, the right wing group under Suharto played a significant role in Indonesian politics. The changes in ideological factors in Indonesian domestic politics influenced its foreign relations. Indonesian foreign policy was leaning to Western countries after 1965. The formation of political and economic spheres in Southeast Asia after 1965 was dominated by the changes of ideological factors in Indonesia.
The ideological factor played a significant role in Indonesian relations with Western countries after the 1965 coup. Indonesia terminated relations with communist countries and improved the relations with the Western countries. A bad economic situation in Indonesia in the early years after the coup was also an important task for the new regime to be improved. Suharto had to solve the economic catastrophe in the years after the coup to prove to the Indonesian mass that democracy-capitalist ideology was much better than the socialist-communist. Suharto needed confidence and support from the masses for his new regime. Western countries also had to assist Indonesia in consolidating the democracy-capitalist ideology strategy. The Tokyo Club (The United States, Japan, France, Great Britain, West Germany and The Netherlands), was formed after the coup by the West, with the main objective and strategy was to assist Indonesia's economic development. The Club was a further support from the Western countries towards Indonesia. Before the coup of 1965 event Western countries already gave their support to Suharto. The United States gave strong support to Suharto to overthrow Sukarno. Other Western countries such as Great Britain, West Germany, Japan and possibly Australia and New Zealand gave support to Suharto group. Based on the ideological factor West Germany assisted Suharto with delivering sub-machine guns, radio equipment and money of value of 300,000 marks (Scott, 1985, p. 45).
Ideological development in Indonesia after 1965 was a key factor in the changes in economic development, economic policies, foreign-policy decisions and political relations. Without the changes in the ideological factor, the changes in other aspects have been impossible.

Ideological Factor and Indonesia-Malaysia Political Relations
The ideological factor (Communist-socialist and democratic-capitalist) played a significant role in the Indonesia-Malaysia political relations. Communist-socialist ideology in the Indonesian regime under Suharto with PKI influence was the main factor in shaping the hostile relations during the period before 1966. The rising of pro-West support with democracy-capitalist ideology, influenced the harmonious relations between Indonesia and Malaysia after 1965. After 1966 Indonesia's military regime under Suharto was pro-West and followed the democracy-capitalist ideology. Indonesia entered a new economic and political sphere. i.e. Western sphere with capitalist economy and democratic politics. The confrontation with Malaysia was ceased in 1966. It was a first step in the Indonesian improved relations with democracy-capitalist sphere. The negotiation in Bangkok in 1966 and 1967 was the process of the consolidation of the capitalist group's position in Indonesia. The formation of ASEAN in August 1967 was the result of co-operation among the Southeast Asian capitalist states. Indonesia led the regional association (ASEAN). The strong support from Western countries, especially the United States, Great Britain and Japan contributed to the successful regional association.
The Indonesia-Malaysia political relationship after 1965 was a result of the changed ideological and political philosophy in Indonesia. The states that had a similar ideology, i.e. democracy-capitalist, tended to make good political relations. Regional security alliance also influenced the regional co-operation. Malaysia needed security protection under the British as a SEATO member. Indonesia needed security protection from inside and outside from the United States. The close Indonesian military partnership with America after the coup was clear. All of the ideology, security and economic advantages played a role in shaping the new political relations between www.ccsenet.org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 10, No. 6;2014 Indonesia and Malaysia. The ideological factor led to the other factors in the early years after the Indonesian Coup of 1965.

Ethnic Relations in Malaysia, Ideological Factors and May Thirteen 1969 Events in Malaysia: Impact upon Malaysia-Indonesia Relations
Ethnic