INDONESIA’S TWO CAMPS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28457, 11 December 1957, Page 15

INDONESIA’S TWO CAMPS

Anti-Communist Forces Strong NEW YORK, December 10. Beset by threats of bankrupted and political chaos, Indonesia had now been clearly divided into Communist and anti-Communist camps, the American Associated press reported from Bangkok. Responsible sources just returned to Bangkok from Jakarta, the news agency stated, said that for the second time since 1948 the Communists were in a position to envelop Indonesia in civil war. “Although the Communists failed in the abortive Maduin rebellion nine years ago, there is no certainty that they would fail again—at least on Java,” tne American Associated Press said The same sources said the best guess throughout most of Indonesia was- that the Communists could seize control of much of Java now—but they would not. The reason was simple. They would face isolation because the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, the Celebes and the rest of East Indonesia were prepared to estaolish a separate Indonesian Government the moment the Communists grabbedpporerw r er in Java

The American Associated Press said that Colonel Malujin Simbolon, “the articulate rebel who now directs a solidifying command of the other islands from his Sumatran headquarters in Padang,” told visiting correspondents: “This is no longer a revolt to gain autonomy. This is a fight to preserve our freedom and stop communism. The minute the Communists seem to be in control in Java or the central government abandons its neutral foreign policy and invites Soviet or Chinese technicians into the country, we will establish an independent Free Government of Indonesia and ask for United Nations recognition?’ The colonel said that he hoped this drastic step would not be necessary. The news agency said, despite the desperate political and economic conditions which prevailed, there appeared to be considerable hope among responsible Indonesians that a way would be found to curb the Communists. The big stumbling block,' apparently, was President Sukarno. “He is like a horse with blinkers,” said one observer who had watched him for a considerable period of time. “He plods straight ahead, oblivious to the c?old war ; the nuclear age, the international threat of communism, and Indonesia’s troubles which are going on all around him.”