New Reprisals By Indonesia

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28451, 4 December 1957, Page 15

New Reprisals By Indonesia

{N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) JAKARTA, December 3. Indonesia has banned the entry of Dutch citizens as part of the campaign against the Netherlands because of its refusal to transfer control of Dutch New Guinea to Jakarta. This action follows the calling of strikes by Indonesian employees of Dutch concerns, the banning of Dutch publications and films and the prohibition of flights by the Dutch airline.

Jakarta’s business centre, which has some important commodity markets, was subdued today. Wealthy Dutch trading firms and banks were closed. The nation-wide strike is expected to halt work also on about 600 huge lubber, coffee, and tea estates owned by Dutchmen in outlying areas of Indonesia. “Precautionary measures” are being considered by the Dutch Government against a possible direct threat to the safety of the 60,000 Dutch men, women and children in Indonesia, authoritative circles said in The Hague today. An official spokesman said it was obvious that the Government would take measures to be prepared for any emergency, although there was no such emergency at present. There was no rush for booking home with the shipping companies in Jakarta so far. The Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Shipping Company announced that it had been informed by the Indonesian Government that no Dutch citizens would be allowed to, land in Indonesia from today. The announcement was made shortly before the liner Willem Ruys was due to leave for Indonesia.

Sixty-three Dutch passengers cancelled their passages, but nearly 200 foreign passengers bound for Indonesia sailed in the ship. K.L.M. to (Tse Singapore As a result oa its expulsion from Indonesia, K.L.M. has been given temporary permission to make Singapore its South-east Asia terminal. A K.L.M. Super Constellation arrived at Singapore today from Jakarta four hours late and without 30 passengers. The pilot, Captain P. .1. Krouwell, said that an. Indonesian Army colonel had ordered the passengers out of the aircraft when it was preparing for the take-off. Captain Krouwel said that once he and the nine members of the crew were on board the aircraft and airborne, the Jakarta control tower refused to acknowledge any of his signals asking for flight route check. He had to make immediate contact with Singapore, even though his aircraft was still in the Jakarta control area.

He said the Indonesian decision to prevent the passengers from leaving followed four hours of see-sawing by the civil and military authorities—one granting take-off permission and the other revoking it. The military sent the final word, “Only the crew will be allowed to leave.”

Captain Krouwel said that before the final ban came, Indonesian troops had boarded the airliner and combed every inch of it. even fingering through the navigation maps and booklets of advice to passengers. Captain Krouwel himself was searched with some of the passengers.

After the all-clear had been given, and the aircraft was ready for the take-off, a jeep raced up and a colonel told the crew that only they could go. Distraught passengers, mainly Dutch, and including women and children, were herded back to the terminal. The crew and a small band of European employees unloaded 20001 b of luggage, while the Indonesian airport hands looked on. Assassination Plot The. Jakarta military commander tonight announced the arrest of “key” suspects in the handgrenade assassination plot against President Soekarno, the United Press reported from Jakarta. The disclosure followed a day of raids and road-block operations by heavily-armed troopsand police in search of the terrorists responsible for the Saturday night attack that killed nine persons and wounded more than 100. The commander, LieutenantColonel Endahv Dachkar, told the official Antara News Agency that the number and identities of the arrested suspects could not be disclosed. President Eisenhower has sent a message to President Soekarno expressing his satisfaction at his

escape from injury in the assassination attempt The State Department said that the message, which was sent through the United States Embassy in Jakarta, also said the President was happy that Dr.Soekarno’s children had been unhurt. President Eisenhower asked that his condolences be conveyed to the families of the victims killed.