Breakaway Move In North Celebes

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 9

Breakaway Move In North Celebes

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) JAKARTA, January 6. The central Government has summoned the Governor of the Celebes Islands to report on the proclamation of a separate province by local authorities in Menado.

Mr Sanusi Hardjanita, the Home Affairs Minister, said today that the Governor (Mr Andi Pangerang) had been asked to come to Jakarta to give an account of developments in the region.

The central Government acted after receiving reports of both civil and armed dissension in north Celebes.

The Army headquarters earlier announced that Major Somba, the military commander of the Nortn Celebes, would be recalled to Jakarta to give a formal report on the situation.

Reports of a separatist movement m the northern part of the rich, spice and copra producing East Indonesian island group came as President Soekarno left the Republic for a health tour in African and Asian countries. Menado Radio announced that the North Celebes Administration would set up its own Government agencies, having nothing to do with Macassar, which is officially regarded as provincial Capital of the whole of the Celebes group. Reports reaching Jakarta said hundreds of citizens were taking up arms and had fled to the forests in revolt against the regime of Lieutenant-Colonel Ventje Sumual, the deposed military commander of East Indonesia, who last March established a North Celebes Province without the sanction of the central Government.

The Civil Administrator of the North Celebes (Mr Manoppo) will go to Jakarta soon to discuss his province’s status with Mr Hardjanita, says a report from The Hague. The Netherlands News Agency reported today from Jakarta that Mr Manoppo had confirmed that North Celebes had officially separated from the Celebes Province as from January 1. Mr Manoppo said the capital of the North Celebes would be Menado, and the province would no longer have any administrative ties with Macassar.

The Indonesian news agency. Antara, said Mr Manoppo had not been officially installed as Provincial Governor by the central Government.

The Netherlands News Agency learned from Jakarta today that Indonesia’s gold and foreign currency reserves dropped last week to the lowest level ever. They now stand at 11.77 per cent, of currency in circulation and claimable liabilities, according to today’s return of the Indonesian Bank.

Spanish Dancers for N.Z.—The Luisillo Spanish Dance Company left Gibraltar today aboard the Orsova for a tour of Australia and New Zealand The company comprising 24 men and girl dancers, guitarists and flamenco singers, will first appear in New Zealand in May.