The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World

by Vincent Bevins

Ambassador Marshall Green: Prior to October 1, 1965, Indonesia was for all practical purposes an Asian communist state.… Events of the past several months have had three major effects on Indonesia’s power structures and policies: 1. The PKI has ceased for the foreseeable future to be an important power element. Effective action by the Army and its Muslim allies has totally disrupted the party’s organizational apparatus. Most Politburo and Central Committee members have been killed or arrested, and estimates of the number of party members killed range up to several hundred thousand.… The memo listed the plan for the US response: 1. Ensure that our actions and statements do nothing to shore up Sukarno and his henchmen.… F. Without becoming directly involved, promote arrangements between the [Government of Indonesia] and the American oil companies.… H. Within the limits of prudence, give open or covert advice and assistance to responsible and competent anti-communist groups for worthwhile activities.32