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International Journal of Indonesian Studies Autumn 2015
There was a series of coup d ’ etats which positioned Western Bloc allies as leaders on the Africa continent . For example , Patrice Lumumba was assassinated and was replaced by Moise Tshombe in 1961 . In Indonesia , the Western Bloc ’ s influence reinforced opposition and supported anti-communist groups / anti-Ir . Soekarno forces . The Western Bloc created the Malaya Federation which took over North Kalimantan territories and West Irian problems were postponed until 1969 . The Western Bloc also supported military and intelligence operations to overthrow President Ir . Soekarno along with the “ catastrophe ” on October 1 st 1965 Movement . The chaos masterminded by forces internal and external to Indonesia led to anti-PRC and anti-communist demonstrations and the genocide of PKI members during 1966 . This period would also see the dismantling of nationalist / PNI groups , and finally President Ir . Soekarno resigned and was replaced by General Soeharto after the Nawaksara speech on June 22 nd 1966 . 14 Those conditions severed Indonesia ’ s diplomatic connection with the PRC in 1967 ; relations with the Soviet Union were frozen and Indonesia again joined the United Nations in 1966 . General Soeharto began to normalise relations with Malaysia in August 1967 . Thus , suddenly , foreign relations between the PRC and the United States of America became closer and were formalized in 1972 . Meanwhile , the Soviet Union faced a leadership crisis after Nikita Kruschev died and split with satellite states in Eastern Europe .
Conclusion It can be concluded that many of Indonesia ’ s foreign policies in the 1955-1965 period were under the influence of Ir . Soekarno ’ s leadership , as well as the growth in the influence of the Communists / PKI in Indonesia ’ s socio-political life . These influences were made possible by the sense of nationalism that imbued Indonesia ’ s population in that early post-colonial era . These conditions supported the parliament which was dominated by the PKI and which advised on Ir . Soekarno ’ s foreign policies . The external statement of those policies were supported by the PRC-Soviet Union as the main power of the Eastern bloc , promoting communism with peaceful coexistence policies to help many Asia-African nations to gain their independence and self determination after independence . However , the rivalry between the PRC and the Soviet Union was the main factor that caused the Eastern Bloc , as well as Asian-African nations allied to one or other communist superpower , to clash with each other . The 2 nd Afro-Asian Conference was postponed due to their rivalry . Indeed , the rivalry between the PRC and the Soviet Union brought advantages to the Western Bloc to spread their influence to Asian-African nations , including , for example , to Indonesia .
The condition of Indonesia was destabilised when the PKI became confused over which axis to support , to choose between Peking-Moscow . Disputes over the leadership at
14 The first of these , which goes at least as far back as 1952 , was ‘ to prevent the countries of Southeast Asia
from passing into the Communist orbit ’ ( Pentagon Papers 1971,27 ). Here , in line with the domino theory , the emphasis is regional rather than national as the generalized enemy and , in line with the main thrust of American cold war foreign policy , targets communism ( Crockatt , 1995 , 236-237 ).