Nicola Tanno to present book on Indonesian genocide in Campobasso

The book ‘Arcipelago rosso: Lotta politica e genocidio in Indonesia (1914-1968)’, written by independent researcher Nicola Tanno, will be presented at the Risguardi Bookstore in Campobasso, Italy.

The volume examines the history of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), which was once the largest non-ruling communist party in the world. It focuses on the 1965-1966 period when at least 500,000 PKI militants were killed by the army led by General Suharto, an event the author characterizes as a genocide.

Tanno’s work traces fifty years of Indonesian history, from anti-colonial struggles against the Netherlands to the anti-imperialist movements under Sukarno. The book also investigates the role of Western powers, specifically documenting logistical and propaganda support provided by the CIA and the United States embassy to Suharto’s military, including the provision of lists of communist officials to the army.