INSURRECTION IN MACASSAR

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26093, 21 April 1950, Page 7

INSURRECTION IN MACASSAR

COLLAPSE REPORTED JAKARTA, April 19. The Indonesian rebel forces in Macassar to-day surrendered unconditionally to the acting-commander of the Nationalist forces there, Major Pieters, and gave up their arms. This was announced in a Defence Ministry communique to-night. The communique added that the Worang Battalion had landed in the South Celebes and was marching on Macassar. The rebels, totalling 140, were being treated as captives, and were guarded by military police. The communique said that the main forces of Nationalist troops were scheduled'to land soon under the command of Colonel Kawilarang. The Worang Battalion arrived off Macassar on April 5, but was forbidden to land by Captain Abdul Azis, who led the revolt in Macassar and took over the military command of the city. Captain Azis, who came to Jakarta on April 14, thinking he would be permitted a safe return to Macassar, is now, awaiting a court-martial. The Dutch-trained Indonesian Army forces in Macassar, who were supporting Captain Azis’s revolt, have Deen disarmed by their Dutch officers, according to official circles in Jakarta. It was feared that the troops would join the rebel forces in Macassar to resist the landings of the Nationalist troops.

A report from Macassar said that the landings of the Nationalist troops near Djenepoto were facilitated by members of the East Indonesian State Police, who had orders “not to shoot unless shot at.” There were no incidents.