Aidit, D. N. (1923-1965), led the Indonesian Communist Party from 1951 to 1965. He built it into Indonesia’s largest and best-organized political party, with more than 3 million members. Under Aidit’s leadership, the party supported President Sukarno. After pro-Communist military officers attempted to seize power in 1965, Aidit fled to central Java, where he was shot and killed on Nov. 22, 1965.
Dipa Nusantara Aidit was born on the island of Belitung, east of Palembang in Sumatra. He was the son of a forestry service official, who later became a member of the Indonesian parliament.
In 1943, Aidit joined the Indonesian Communist Party. The Communists led a rebellion against the Indonesian government in 1948. After the revolt failed, Aidit fled to China and later went to Vietnam. He returned to Indonesia in 1950. The following year, he was elected general secretary of the Communist central committee. In 1954, he was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of Indonesia. Finally, in 1959, he was elected to a new post of chairman of the central committee of the Indonesia Communist Party.
