COMMUNIST REGIME IN CENTRAL JAVA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25606, 22 September 1948, Page 5

COMMUNIST REGIME IN CENTRAL JAVA

Republicans Preparing To

Attack Madiun

“WILL NOT ALLOW DUTCH TO INTERVENE”

(N.Z. Press Awoclation— Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) BATAVIA, September 21. The Indonesian Republic began to-day to organise for its attack on the newly proclaimed Communist Republic at Madiun, in central Java,, according to reports from Jogjakarta, the Republican capital. A curfew has been imposed in Kediri, 25 miles south-east of Madiun, and Colonel Sungkono, who has been appointed by the Republic to crush the Communists, has made his headquarters there. At Mageland, north of Jogjakarta, the Republican police have begun to round up Communist leaden. A curfew has been imposed there also. The Prime Minister of the Indonesian Republic (Dr. Hatta) announced to-day that his Government would not allow the Dutch to intervene in the Communist uprising. His statement coincided with a Netherlands Indies news agency report that another 1300 Dutch soldiers, marines, and sailors had arrived at Batavia to reinforce the Dutch garrisons. The troops are part of a reinforcement division which Holland is sending to Indonesia.

In New York, Mr Soedarpo Sastrasatono, a member of the Indonesian delegation to the United Nations, said that the Indonesian Republic would not tolerate Dutch intervention in its difficulties with the Communists in Madiun. “If we want outside help we shall appeal to the United Nations,” he said. “Dutch intervention at this time would mean only an attempt to use the hammer and sickle as a means of invading the democratic Republic.”

According to Republican sources in Batavia the Communists have between 3000 and 4000 troops in the Madiun province. They are believed to be well armed, principally with Japanese weapons.

The Republican radio in Sumatra announced the arrest of 14 “dishonest military authorities” in three cities of the Tapanoeli Province, in north-west Sumatra, after the reported uprising against the Republican Government last week. The radio added that only a few shots were fired during the action, and a few military personnel killed. The civil authorities and commerce were continuing normally. Firm measures to restore Republican authority in Surakarta, the second city of Republican Java, where the Communists are in revolt against the Hatta Government, were ordered yesterday. The commanders of all fighting organisations in the district were told to report to the Republican headquarters to receive instructions to restore normality. The Government warned that those who disobeyed would be treated as rebels.

“It is reliably learned that the Dutch Government does not consider that it need offer help to the Indonesian Republican Government in its action against the Communists in Java, in view of the positive manner in which the Republicans are tackling the rebellion,” says Reuter’s correspondent at The Hague. “It is considered that the Republicans’ firm attitude against the Communists is a favourable omen for a settlement of the Dutch-Indone-sian dispute.” Mr Udo Stikker, the Netherlands Foreign Minister, who is visiting the United States, claimed in Washington to-day that the current Communist unrest in Indonesia and throughout South-east Asia was directly inspired by Moscow. He said this was obvious

from statements by the Javanese Communist leader, Muso. “The present Communist thrust into South-east Asia can only be explained as part of a globe 1 pattern dictated from Moscow,” .said Mr Stikker. “The Dutch Government is aiming to strengthen the hand of the genuine nationalist leaders in the East Indies against the destructive and disturbing Communist elements, who have never wanted to come to a peaceful agreement.” It is reported at The Hague that the Lieutenant-Governor of the Netherlands East Indies (Dr. Van Mook) will leave for Batavia to-day to deal with the new situation in Java created by the Communist uprising.