INDONESIAN STRIFE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 78, 12 January 1949, Page 4

INDONESIAN STRIFE

Republican Leaders Removed NOW IN NORTH SUMATRA BATAVIA, .Tan. 11. The Indonesian Republican leaders. Dr. Soekarno, Mr Sjahrir, and Mr Salim, are no longer on Banka Island, where they were taken after their arrest by the Dutch. Their whereabouts were not indicated in a reply, received to-day by the United Nations Committee of Good Offices, to a request for facilities to visit them. Official Dutcli sources in Batavia say that Dr. Soekarno, Mr Salim and Mr Spahrir are shaving a bungalow on the Parapat'peninsula, in northern Sumatra. The Republican leaders said that they preferred to remain in their “present residence” when they were informed that it was intended to transfer them to Banka Island.

The Dutcli also reported that the four Republican Ministers in Jogjakarta nov; Jiao’ full freedom, and could leave Jogjakarta if they wished. Republican guerilla resistance throughout Java continues on a considerable scale. In eastern and central Java guerilla interference ' with ground movements is reported to be so severe that the' Dutcli are using air supply. Vehicle losses through road mines are reported to be heavy.

Intense guerilla activity is also reported around Tasikmalaya, about 120 miles south-east of. Bata'via, and Sukabumi, about 50 miles south of Batavia.

The present fighting in Java, claimed its first British victim when a 50-year-old Scottish bachelor, Mr Ronald Macpherson, manager of the Tempeh rubber plantations, about 40 miles east of Malang, was killed during an attack on the estate by guerillas. According to unofficial reports guerilla, activity in this area in so intense that the district is practically isolated.