The Pancasila Youth is an Indonesian far-right paramilitary organization established in 1959. The organisation's name refers to Pancasila, the official "five principles" of the Indonesian state. Pemuda Pancasila was involved in the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, and supported the New Order regime of President Suharto. Its members extort money, control car parking and offer security services.
Pancasila Youth members (in black and orange camouflage service attire) in a Youth Pledge Day ceremony in Cirebon Regency, West Java
Zulkifli Hasan and Yapto Soerjosoemarno in a Pancasila Youth meeting
The Act of Killing is a 2012 experimental documentary film directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, with Christine Cynn and an anonymous Indonesian co-directing. The film follows individuals who participated in the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, wherein alleged communists and people against the New Order regime were tortured and killed, with the killers, many becoming gangsters, still in power throughout the country. The film was mostly filmed in Medan, North Sumatra, following the executioner Anwar Congo and his acquaintances as they, upon Oppenheimer's request, re-enact their killings and talk about their actions openly, also following Congo's psychological journey facing the topic.
Theatrical release poster
The film was mostly filmed in Medan (pictured 2009)
Joshua Oppenheimer at the French premiere for The Act of Killing