Dipa Nusantara Aidit

Who was Dipa Nusantara Aidit?

Dipa Nusantara Aidit was a senior leader of the Communist Party of Indonesia. Born Ahmad Aidit on Belitung Island, he was nicknamed "Amat". Aidit was educated in the Dutch colonial system.

Though a Marxist, Aidit submitted to Sukarno's Marhaenism policy and allowed the party to grow without any overt intentions towards power. In return for his support of Sukarno, he rose to the position of Secretary-General of the PKI. Under his administration, the party became the 3rd largest Communist party in the world, behind those of the Soviet Union and China. He set up a number of programs including the Pemuda Rakyat for the youth, and Gerwani a women's league.

During the 1955 general election campaign, Aidit and the PKI drew a large following. In the next decade, the PKI became a leftist rival to conservative elements among the Muslim political parties and the Army. By 1965, the PKI had become the largest political party in Indonesia, and Aidit became bolder in overtures towards power.

After the attempted coup on 30 September, 1965, later officially blamed on the PKI, Aidit fled to Yogyakarta, where he was shot on 22 November by pro-government forces led by General Suharto during the bloody 1965/66 anti-communist purge.