People's Youth

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People's Youth (Indonesian: Pemuda Rakyat) was the youth wing of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). The organization was formed as the Socialist Youth of Indonesia (Pemuda Sosialis Indonesia or Pesindo). Initially the organization was set up on the initiative of the then Minister of Defence Amir Sjarifuddin, as the youth wing of the Socialist Party of Indonesia. A congress was held November 10-November 11, 1945, were seven locally based youth outfits merged. Rapidly it gained a membership of around 25 000. The organization took part in the armed struggle for independence during the Indonesian National Revolution. Pesindo units were engaged in combats against British forces.

Pesindo took part, along with PKI and FDR, in the Madiun uprising 1948.

In 1950 the organization established its ties to PKI and changed its name to Pemuda Rakyat. At the congress of November 1950 Francisca C. Fanggidaej became the chairwoman of the organization. Sukatno became the general secretary.

Membership of Pemuda Rakyat reached around three million in 1965. Pemuda Rakyat was brutally suppressed along with PKI in 1965-1966.