Indonesian Volunteers In Eastern Islands

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 13

Indonesian Volunteers In Eastern Islands

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copy right) DJAKARTA, February 12. About 10,000 trained volunteers moved into eastern Indonesia yesterday, probably for infiltration into West New Guinea, the Associated Press reported.

Some were believed to be Indonesians from Sumatra who onc< fought President Soekarno in an uprising in the outer islands against the strict economic controls imposed from Djakarta. Skilled in the type of jun-

gle warfare required in the wilds of Dutch-held New Guinea, about 10.000 of these erstwhile rebels have asked to be sent to the East to fight the Dutch.

An Army announcement said the volunteers sailed from Djakarta on Saturday The volunteers will “be given duties in the military fields to execute President Soekarno’s commands on West Irian (West New Guinea),” an Army spokesman said These commands are to plant Indonesia's red and white flag on West New Guinea The Government has said previously that Indonesians and some eastern Indonesians of Papuan ancestry—the negroid stock native to New Guinea—have been infiltrating the Dutch island The Dutch claim these infiltrators are being rounded up as fast as they land. They say Papuan natives help Dutch patrols in the operation

The Indonesian Army also disclosed it is using the steaming jungles of Borneo for the training of guerrillas The terrain, with its swamps and spreading rivers, is similar to that of West New Guinea

An Indonesian Embassy spokesman said in Moscow today that the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (Air Vice-Marshal Umar Dani) was in the Soviet

Union to try to speed up delivery of Soviet arms for Indonesia

He claimed the visit had nothing to do with Indonesia’s desire to take over Dutch New Guinea, said the British United Press “The nation has a duty to build up its defences, and the visit would take place now even if we had no dispute.” he said Air Vice-Marshal Dani arrived in Moscow on Sunday.