D. N. Aidit
Dipa Nusantara Aidit | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ahmad Aidit Template:Birth date Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | November 22, 1965 (aged 42) Indonesia |
| Other names | Amat |
| Occupation(s) | Communist leader, politician |
| Years active | 1940s–1965 |
| Known for | General Secretary of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) |
Dipa Nusantara Aidit (originally named Ahmad Aidit; born 30 July 1923 – died 22 November 1965) was a prominent Indonesian communist leader who held the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) from 1951 until his execution amid the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66. He was born on Belitung Island and was commonly referred to by the nickname "Amat".
Early life
Achmad Aidit entered the world in Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, on 30 July 1923 as the eldest among four siblings born to Abdullah Aidit and Mailan. All children in the family attended the Hollandsche Inlandsch School.
In 1936, Achmad relocated to Jakarta (then known as Batavia) to pursue further education at Middestand Handel School after missing enrollment for Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs. Initially residing in Cempaka Putih with a family acquaintance, he later moved to Senen to live with his brother Murad. To sustain themselves, they relied on their own earnings rather than familial support. During this time, Achmad actively participated in Persatuan Timur Muda under the auspices of Gerindo, which was led by Amir Sjarifudin and Adnan Kapau Gani; he eventually assumed the role of chairman. To protect his identity, he adopted the name Dipa Nusantara (D.N.), a choice initially opposed by his father.
Political career
Throughout the Japanese occupation, D.N. Aidit and his associates at Asrama Menteng 31 were exposed to political instruction from influential figures such as Sukarno, Hatta, Amir Sjarifudin, Achmad Subardjo, and Ki Hajar Dewantoro. In 1943, Aidit encountered M.H. Lukman, with both becoming members of Gerakan Indonesia Merdeka; Aidit served as chairman of its political council. The following year, they were selected as part of Barisan Pelopor Indonesia, a contingent of 100 dedicated supporters of Sukarno. Approximately one year prior to Indonesian independence, Aidit, Lukman, and others engaged in political studies at Asrama Kemerdekaan, an institution established by Rear Admiral Maeda and headed by Wikana.
In September 1945, the formation of Angkatan Pemuda Indonesia (API) took place, with Aidit appointed as chairman for its Jakarta Raya division. On 5 November, Aidit along with API members launched an assault on a Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger post but were apprehended and subsequently exiled to Onrust island. After a detention period lasting seven months, both Aidit and Lukman secured their release.
The Rise of the Communist Party
Following their release, Aidit and Lukman traveled to Yogyakarta to meet Wikana and took charge of managing a bimonthly publication. It was there that they established connections with Njoto, who represented PKI in Banyuwangi.
In March 1947, during a meeting of the KNIP, Aidit was designated chairman of a PKI faction. By early 1948, Aidit, Lukman, and Njoto collaborated on translating The Communist Manifesto into Indonesian. In August of that year, all three assumed roles within the Central Committee responsible for land affairs, propaganda efforts, and external relations respectively. On 1 September 1948, they became members of the newly formed PKI Politburo under the leadership of Musso, with Aidit overseeing labor matters. Following the suppression of PKI during the Madiun Affair, Aidit and Lukman sought refuge in China and Vietnam; some accounts suggest Aidit's presence in Tanjung Priok during this period. While in concealment, they revived their publication on 15 August 1950 and issued a biweekly magazine that Njoto joined in January 1951.
In the aftermath of the 1948 incident, at the party's fifth congress held in January 1951, Aidit, Njoto, Lukman, and Sudisman replaced previous leaders. Aidit assumed the role of secretary general—later advancing to chairman—with Njoto and Lukman serving as his deputies. Under his stewardship, PKI broadened its base beyond industrial workers and plantation laborers to incorporate farmers and peasants. During mass arrests targeting communists in August 1951, Aidit went underground alongside Njoto and Lukman while thousands of party affiliates were detained without formal charges.
Secretary General of the PKI
Despite his Marxist ideology, Aidit embraced Sukarno's Marhaenism approach, which allowed the PKI to expand without openly seeking political dominance. This strategic alignment facilitated his appointment as Secretary-General of the PKI.
Under Aidit's guidance, the party transitioned from insurrection to focusing on social initiatives, emphasizing education through grassroots organizations such as Pemuda Rakyat, Gerwani, Barisan Tani Indonesia (BTI), and Lekra. These programs successfully provided literacy and education to workers and farmers, surpassing the effectiveness of both governmental and private educational institutions. Consequently, the PKI embodied not only a political movement but also a social and cultural transformation.
In the 1955 general elections, Aidit and the PKI achieved substantial electoral success, emerging as a left-wing alternative to conservative Islamic parties and the military establishment. By 1965, the PKI had grown to become Indonesia’s largest political party and ranked as the third-largest communist party worldwide, following those of the Soviet Union and China.
In 1958, Aidit orchestrated a film festival under the PKI’s auspices aimed at promoting Indonesian cinema. This event attracted prominent artists such as Nun Zairina, Gordon Tobing, and Bing Slamet. Education Minister Prijono highlighted the film industry’s significance in influencing public morals and societal values.
Failed coup and death
The attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was officially attributed to the PKI (see Transition to the New Order). On 2 October, Aidit met with regional PKI officials in Yogyakarta and Semarang, concluding that the coup was an internal Army affair with no involvement from the PKI. Subsequent meetings with local authorities yielded conflicting reports.
On 5 October, Aidit gathered with Politburo members in Blitar, where he composed a letter articulating the PKI’s position; this document was later presented at a cabinet session in Bogor.
Aidit fled to Boyolali but was apprehended by forces loyal to General Suharto on 22 November. He was executed without trial during the anti-communist purges of 1965–66. The military claimed he admitted responsibility for orchestrating the coup; however, U.S. officials expressed skepticism due to suspected propaganda influence. His remains are believed to have been discarded in an abandoned well or destroyed along with the house where he was detained.
Political views
Ricklefs notes that Aidit regarded "Marxism as a practical guide rather than an unyielding doctrine." He showed sympathy toward Musso’s Jalan Baru untuk Republik Indonesia (A New Road for Indonesian Republic), though he dismissed the Madiun Affair as mere "childish antics."
Legacy
A selection of Aidit's works was published under the title The Selected Works of D.N. Aidit (2 volumes, Washington: US Joint Publications Research Service, 1961).
Aidit became emblematic of malevolence within Indonesian society due to alleged atrocities linked to both the Madiun affair and the Thirtieth of September Movement during his leadership of the Communist Party. The 1984 film Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI further entrenched this negative portrayal.
In 2024, Alvino Kusumabrata identified two of Aidit's publications—Lahirnja PKI dan Perkembangannja (1955) and Masjarakat Indonesia dan Revolusi Indonesia (1957)—as essential texts that depict communism independently from the New Order perspective.
Personal life
In the early months of 1948, Aidit entered into marriage with Soetanti. Their second son, Ilham, was born on 18 May 1959 while they were in Moscow.
Bibliography
- Melvin, Jess (2018) The Army and the Indonesian Genocide: Mechanics of Mass Murder Routledge, UK
- Robinson, Geoffrey B. (2018) The Killing Season: A History of the Indonesian Massacres, 1965-66 Princeton University Press