The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1948. WAR ON LAWLESSNESS IN INDONESIA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14858, 21 December 1948, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1948. WAR ON LAWLESSNESS IN INDONESIA

'•Although few facts .leading’ up to the present crisis in Indonesia have been made available, it would seem that the Dutch government has had to make the unpleasant choice of precipitating the serious repercussions throughout Hie East which Mr Nehru envisages, or allowing-lawless elements to work their will among an already partly disaffected population. While Dutch paratroopers have seized the ' airport at Jogjakarta and other troops have been moved into Republican territory in; Java and Sumatra; and marines, supported by naval units, have landed on the north coast of Java, the aim" of the Netherlands Government ’is not aggression, but a full-scale move against terrorism. This has been made quite clear by the Dutch Governor-General in the Netherlands East Indies, Dr Louis Reel and, in view of what has been happening in Malaya and elsewhere, there seems no reason to doubt the explanation be has o-iven.. It is almost certain that the troubled situation in the East Indies, for which the Kremlin cannot be held entirely guiltless, will provide ample material for the kind of propaganda which dovetails so well with the activities of Communists and terrorists throughout most Asiatic countries. The best reply to such possible distortion of facts has been given by Dr Reel who, in addressing his troops, said, “Yon do not advance in order to occupy enemy territory, but to bring justice and security where lawlessness has ruled before.” In announcing police action in Indonesia the Netherlands Government at the Hague also pointed out that it is taking this action against “terrorists and undisciplined elements of the Republic who render any constructive policy impossible.” There is no question of the Netherlands Government trying to suppress the republic by force. Its aim is definitely to establish a sovereign Indonesian Federation.as an equal partner. The Indian Prime Minister is naturally perturbed at the new development which, he maintains, is contrary to the principles of the United Nations Charter. If the move were an aggressive one, Mr Nehru would be quite justified in so regarding it. If the Dutch are sincere, and there seems little reason at this stage to doubt it, Indonesia will retain her full freedom and take her rightful place in international affairs. She cannot do this however, until lawlessness, of the type with which we have become only too familiar in Malaya, is completely stamped out.