KEBIJAKAN PETRUS (PENEMBAKAN MISTERIUS) OLEH SOEHARTO PADA ERA ORDE BARU: KEAMANAN MASYARAKAT ATAU TERROR MASYARAKAT?

Abstract

The Penembakan Misterius (Petrus), or Mysterious Shootings policy, during the New Order era was one of the most controversial security measures implemented under President Soeharto’s leadership. This program was carried out under the pretext of suppressing crime rates, yet in practice it generated fear and widespread human rights violations within society. This study aims to analyze the Petrus policy as an instrument of state power and to assess whether the actions taken were genuinely intended to maintain public safety or rather functioned as a form of terror against the population. This research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach focusing on the implementation of Petrus between 1983 and 1985. Data were collected through literature review, analysis of official documents, media reports, and academic studies related to New Order security policies. The data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns of power, legitimacy, and the social impacts of the policy. The findings indicate that the Petrus policy served a dual purpose as a tool of social and political control to maintain the stability of the New Order regime. Although formally justified as a security initiative, its implementation instilled collective fear and strengthened military domination over civil society. The policy also demonstrates how state violence was legitimized through discourses of morality and order. Overall, Petrus reflects state terror rather than a genuine public security program. This study underscores the importance of critical reflection on repressive state practices to ensure that future security policies uphold human rights and principles of social justice.