INDONESIAN POLITICS IN TURMOIL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28159, 24 December 1956, Page 11

INDONESIAN POLITICS IN TURMOIL

Two Areas Of Sumatra Reject Central Control

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) JAKARTA, December 22. Indonesia today presented a scene of turmoil after two areas of Sumatra had rejected the control of the central Government.

Some political leaders predicted that the Cabinet would fall.

A prominent political leader said in a broadcast from Central Sumatra last night that the power taken by the province would be returned to the central Government in Jakarta “as soon as the improvements desired by the people have been achieved.”

He said the new Government was set up expressly to take care of the interests of the people in Central Sumatra and also to preserve the Republic of Indonesia from total collapse.

The new administration also aimed at forcing the central Government to "stop thinking of its own interests to the complete neglect of the outer regions." Another broadcast monitored from Northern Sumatra said that the present Cabinet should be replaced by “people honestly striving towards the realisation of the development of the country, full of a sense of responsibility and not associated with a lust for power.”

After such a Government was formed, and the situation had improved. normal relations would be resumed with the central government, the broadcast said. Corruption Charges In Jakarta, the Attorney-eneral Mr Suprapto, announced that indications had been found “giving sufficient reason for suspecting” the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ruslan Abdulgani, of committing a criminal offence. This followed earlier allegations of corruption made against Mr Abdulgani. Mr Suprapto said that further investigations would be made into these allegations.

Mr Abdulgani is a member of the Nationalist Party which is also represented in the Cabinet by the Prime Minister (Dr. Ali Sastroamidjojo) and three other Ministers.

Leaders of the two major Moslem parties in the cabinet, the Masjumi and the Nahdatul Uhlama, have been demanding the resignation of Mr Abdulgani on the basis of allegations made against him in Court by the editor of “Indonesia Raya.” Mr Mochtar Lubis, who is under arrest and on trial for “insulting the Government” by publishing these allegations. These parties are now expected to intensify their demands. New Leader Wanted

Many Moslem leaders have suggested that Dr. Mohammad Hatta, who resigned as Vice-President on December 1, should be the leader of a new Government. He is from Sumatra, and at the same time could command the loyalty of other Indonesians. These leaders said that President Sukarno might oppose such a move.

The Cabinet met in emergency session for the second time in two days. Unconfirmed reports received in Singapore today said that a state of war and siege had been declared for the “entire territory of North Sumatra.” Leader of Coup The American Associated Press said today that the man who actually headed the bloodless coup was identified by radio renorts from Sumatra as Lieutenant-Colonel Achmad Hussein, a 35-year-old former lieutenant in the Japanese army of occupation in Indonesia. The agency said that Colonel Hussein was known as “the tiger of Central Sumatra.” He is a clean-shaven, stocky man with a crew cut. He looks like a Japanese. The American Associated Press said that Colonel Hussein was Dutcheducated and operated as a guerrilla leader in the campaign which led eventually to the Dutch withdrawal from Indonesia and the establishment of the Indonesian Republic in place of the Netherlands East Indies. Broadcasts from Sumatra last night said that Colonel Hussein had taken over the Government of the province, the Associated Press said. Then came Colonel Simbolon’s announcement today that he was assuming power, said the agency.

Order of Lenin Awarded.— The Order of Lenin has been confirmed on Marshal of the Soviet Union, K. K. Rokossovsky, on his sixtieth birthday and for his services to the Russian Army and Soviet State.—Moscow, December 21.