SHORTAGE OF RICE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF RICE

Central Java Famine (Rec. 8 p.m.) JAKARTA. Dec. 28 Eighty thousand persons were affected by food shortages in the famine areas of Central Java, social welfare workers said today in Semarang. The Central Java military administration announced that 10.000 tons of rice would be imported to relieve the province’s acute shortage. The Social Affairs Minister (Mr Djojomartono) told reporters in Jakarta, after a tour of the stricken areas, that some hungry villagers were eating field mice, but the number doing so was not great. There had been exaggerated press reports on this, be said. The Minister said 1.000,000 rupiahs had been allocated to the Social Affairs Department to help ease the situation. Arrangements were being made for some of the 80,000 villagers to migrate to South Sumatra. Government Criticised Meanwhile Dr. Mohammed Hatta, a former Vice-President, and still regarded as the nation’s second top leader, today urged the Government not to let the Indonesian people suffer in the campaign for Dutch West New Guinea. Dr. Hatta, an economist, said there could be no strong struggle which began with famine conditions.

In an article reprinted by several Jakarta newspapers he criticised statements by several Cabinet Ministers. Dr Hatta said, there had even been a Minister who told the people they should be willing to suffer until West Irian came under Indonesian authority. "Craxy Measures" If the people were suffering temporarily this was the consequence of "crazy measures" stirred In certain regions without planning. Dr. Hatta said. He said the main thing now was to surmount in a short' time all the difficulties caused by Indonesia itself.

Dr. Hatta said the policy of liquidating Dutch economic interests eould not be cancelled but should be implemented without harming Indonesian communications and the people’s food aupply must be adjusted.