Historical analysis generally supports the accuracy of this cartoon’s core message: that the 1965–1966 anti-communist purges in Indonesia were highly indiscriminate and claimed a vast number of non-communist victims.
Historical Context & Accuracy
Historians and declassified documents from that era confirm that while the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was the primary target, the violence under General Suharto quickly spiraled far beyond them.
Broad Victim Base: While the purges officially targeted "communists," the victims included a massive number of people with no formal ties to the PKI. These included:
Anti-Communists & Religious Conservatives: As the cartoon suggests, even some traditional conservatives and devoutly religious individuals were swept up. This often happened due to personal vendettas, local power struggles, or the "guilt by association" nature of the military's crackdown.
Sympathizers & Family Members: Anyone associated with a "leftist" organization—labor unions, women’s groups, or peasant associations—was targeted.
Ethnic Minorities: Ethnic Chinese Indonesians and other marginalized groups were often scapegoated and attacked, regardless of their political leanings.
The "Pipeline" of Violence: The cartoon depicts the "Victims of Suharto" as a shared experience. Research shows that between 500,000 and 1 million people were killed, and up to a million more were detained without trial. The military often mobilized civilian militias (including religious youth groups) to carry out the killings, leading to a breakdown in order where anyone could be accused of being "PKI" to justify their execution.
A "Pretext" for Power: Modern historians frequently describe the 1965 coup attempt as a "pretext" for a mass political purge. The cartoon's depiction of the "Anti-Communist" figure receiving the bulk of the "sustenance" reflects the historical reality that the purges were more about absolute political consolidation than a targeted surgical strike against actual communist operatives.
Summary of Targets
Intended Targets Actual Victims
PKI Leaders & Members Unarmed peasants & laborers
Coup Conspirators Teachers, artists, and intellectuals
Communist Guerrillas Ethnic Chinese & religious minorities
Political rivals & conservative critics
