MOBILISATION IN INDONESIA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 11

MOBILISATION IN INDONESIA

Troops Pour Into South Celebes (NZ. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 6. Indonesian troops began pouring into the strategic South (Celebes today and general mobilisation was ordered in East Indonesia as the crisis over the Dutch-occupied West New Guinea reached its highest pitch so far. The South Celebes Military Commander, Colonel M. Jusuf. who has been conferring closely with Indonesia’s President Soekarno for the last three days, announced the Indonesian military move tonight, the Associated Press reported from Macassar in the South Celebes.

Colonel Jusuf said the general staff had ordered the reinforcing of the South Celebes and that troops were already arriving. Dr. Soekarno said on Thursday that the Macassar area would be the jumping-off point for an invasion of West New Guinea.

Colonel Jusuf also said that a flotilla of destroyers had sailed for Macassar from Surabaya, and that six or seven were expected at Macassar early next week. Dr. Soekarno’s State Secretary, Mr Mohd Ichxan, in announcing general mobilisation tonight, said Dr. Soekarno had given orders “so that we are at the utmost preparedness for action.” Some 10,000 veterans of the revolutionary war against the Dutch were armed in East Indonesia last week.

The Minister for Basic Industries and Mining, Mr Chaerul Saleh who has taken a leading part in the Indonesian revolution said today: “The object of Indonesia’s present military moves is to stop the Dutch from sleeping at night.” Mr Saleh declared that there will be “a spontaneous move towards West Irian by the people soon.’’ But he said the Army "will give advice on any action.” In New York tonight an Indonesian spokesman said Dr. Soekarno had told the acting United Nations SecretaryGeneral (U Thant) that the way was “still open for negotiation” with Holland in the West New Guinea dispute. The spokesman said that at the same time the President had let it be known that Indonesia could negotiate only on

the basis of the transfer of the administration of the territory from Holland to Indonesia. Dr. Soekarno’s views were transmitted by Mr E. J. Lapian, Charge d’Affaires of the Indonesian delegation, in private conferences with U Tiiant last Wednesday and Thursday, it was said. U Thant sent messages last month to the Indonesian leader and to the Dutch Prime Minister, Dr. Jan de Quay, urging them to try to solve the dispute by negotiation and Holland this week modified its previous stand of requiring self-determination by the Papuan inhabitants on the future of their land. Reports at The Hague say the Dutch Air Force recently sent eight Hunter fighters to Dutch New Guinea, bringing the total now stationed at Biak international airport to 19, the British United Press reported. The reports said the Hunter shipments, which had been foreseen when plans for strengthening New Guinea defences were drawn up ia 1960, had been speeded in connexion with the current situation.

a long time. ago. No new decisions have been taken since.” All necessary measures for the security of Dutch New Guinea were being taken by the civil and military authorities, the Governor of Dutch New Guinea, Dr. P. J. Pateel, said in a statement in Hollandia today. He warned the population against spreading rumours, which, he said, could only cause confusion. In his statement, Dr. Pateel said that his Administration was ih continuous touch with The Hague, where the Dutch Government was carefully following international developments over the dispute. President Soekarno today continued his “liberate West Irian” campaign with an address to a mass rally at Pare-Pare, in the Celebes. He said that he had already appointed a governor for West Irian—the Indonesian name for West New Guinea—and that ■ the man was already there. He would not give his name or location in order to protect his life. Dr. Soekarno Said he was already giving West New Guinea wide autonomy, its own capital and own' governor, He said West Iriah leaders were impatiently saying: “What are you jvaiting for?” “We reply, 'just a little more patience,’ which means not much longer before the red and white flag unfurls over, West Irian,” he said. He repeated his promise to have West Irian before the end of and said that after fruitless United Nations efforts his patience was exhausted and he decided to confront the Dutch at every level, economically and politically and if necessary militarily. In Djakarta, the Indonesian Navy announced that an area in the Java Sea had been set aside for bombing and rocket practice. All shipping was warned to stay clear.

TALKS ON BERLIN Rusk And Clay Deny Split (NZ. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. The Secretary of State (Mr Rusk), and General Lucius D. Clay conferred today on the "imoprtsnt and potentially dangerous” Berlin situation. They then denied any policy differences between them over how to deal with the crisis, the Associated Press reported. The two met at the State Department. Tomorrow General day will meet President Kennedy. He is the President’s special representative in West Berlin. General Clay told reporters the “probability” of an emergency of extreme danger within Berlin was in fact “very remote.” General Clay came to Washington yesterday amid reports that he had made a strong protest to Mr Rusk last months against instructions which would drastically limit the power of the American commander in Berlin. There have been reports that the commander did not have the power to take action in the event of some flare-up in Berlin.

A spokesman for the Dutch Air Force today declined to confirm or deny the report. He said: “New Guinea defences were decided