Indonesia

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 10

Indonesia

, The opening of the Russian Embassy in Jakarta and Russian interest in Indonesia’s claim to Dutch New 1 Guinea coine at a time when the Indonesian Communist Party is at the height of its influence. "Dirough

their deal with the Nationalist Party the Communists are the power behind the present government, which could not last without their support; Communists control several Ministries, including the important Ministry of Defence. With the help of the Nationalist Party they are trying to extend their influence beyond the capital against the time when Indonesia’s first election must be held. Communists now control the trade union movement; and the anti-Communist trade union federation has been kept in check by Nationalist Party pressure on its members to withdraw from union leadership. Newspaper correspondents who have visited the country assert that the Nationalist Party is deluding itself into believing that it can use the Communist Party for its own purpose, which is to keep the strong Masjumi Party out of office. Nobody can tell which parties really enjoy popular support, although it is thought that the Masjumi Party, with its Moslem backing, has much the greatest influence. Indonesia, which has never had ah election, has been governed since it obtained independence by in a parliament nominated by political parties. There is no real constitution. The federal constitution agreed upon when the Dutch rule ended was not put into effect; and one of the two Indonesian signatories of the original Union Statute is still in prison because he resisted centralisation in Jakarta. Indonesia has now finally cut itself adrift, from the Netherlands, but still has only a provisional constitution, with no better authority than the decision of a nominated assembly.

Because the aims* of the main parties in the present coalition are different, this Government is possibly even less stable than its predecessors. The' situation was pessimistically reviewed recently by a special correspondent of the

“Manchester Guardian”. The economic policy of the present Minister of Economics (Mr Iskaq) has been disastrous for the country, although some persons are said to have made enormous profits. Civil service efficiency has been undermined by political dismissals and appointments. Internal security has not yet been restored by the army, which is itself riddled with intrigue. Corruption is now accepted as normal. “ Even' the most sympa- “ thetic observer cannot but feel “ shaken as he surveys this melan- “ choly scene, and 'compares it with “ the situation at the transfer of “ . . . wrote the

correspondent. “Then ' the new “ rulers were bursting with enthusi- ” asm and a social spirit. Now, “ apathy is everywhere, and care for “ self the only rule ”. The correspondent concluded that the present state of Indonesian society was well suited to the Communists' purposes. Encouraged by the trend of events in Indonesia and the success of communism in Indo-China, they were content to wait for their opportunity. Much the same picture was drawn by Joseph Alsop in the New York “Herald Tribune” after a visit to Indonesia at the end of last year, although his conclusions, based on the assumption that Indonesia would not become overawed by the power of Communist China, were more optimistic. He pinned his faith on the quality of the people and of the old revolutionary leaders, such as President Soekarno, Dr. Sjahrir, Dr. Hatta, and the Sultan of Jogjakarta. He believed that these leaders would draw together again if the breakdown of the republic was imminently threatened. His faith might be less firm after the deterioration of the last few months. But in any case democracy in Indonesia must remain in danger until the people are given the opportunity at a general election of naming their own representatives. Until the election is held and the political air is cleared, Indonesia has little chance of obtaining the large inflow of foreign capital that is necessary for a stable future.