Soekarno Alleges Dutch Aggression

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29842, 7 June 1962, Page 13

Soekarno Alleges Dutch Aggression

(N.Z Press Association —Copyright)

NEW YORK, June 6

President Soekarno of Indonesia charged the Netherlands yesterday with aggression in disputed West New Guinea, and reaffirmed his willingness to negotiate on the basis of the Bunker plan.

The Indonesian leader, replying to separate appeals made last week by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral iU Thant) to the Netherlands and Indonesia to halt the hostilities in West New Guinea, said his country had “stepped up military activities” to protect the people of the territory against “increasing cruel suppression" by Dutch forces The Netherlands Prime Minister (Dr. de Quay) in his reply to U Thant last Friday said his country had “not undertaken any hostilities” in West New Guinea, and was merely exercising its “right of legitimate self-de-fence.” Both parties have already agreed in principle to negotiate the dispute on the basis of proposals formulated by Mr Ellsworth Bunker. a former United States diplomat. who sat in for U Thanl at secret talks between the Netherlands and Indonesia near Washington in March. These provide for the transfer of West New Guinea from Dutch to Indonesian administration over a two-year period, with an intermediate stage of United Nations control. Provision is made for a plebiscite, after administration has passed to Indonesia to enable the inhabitants to determine their future. President Soekarno said in his message today that Indonesia considered the Bunker plan “the only way to settle the West Irian dispute peacefully and quickly.” Presiden’ Soekarno accused Dutch troops of “cruel suppression” of the people of the disputed territory, and thanked U Thant for his “unceasing efforts to bring the two parties together for a speedy, peaceful settlement. “As you know from the very beginning of the dispute, my Government has always endeavoured to solve the

West Irian problem bv peaceful means, both bilaterally with the Netherlands, and through the United Nations." he said.

“Indeed we accepted promptly the principles of the Bunker proposals, in order to pave the way for a peaceful and orderly solution. The Netherlands, instead, does not react favourably to the Bunker proposals.

"On the contrary with increasing speed they reinforced their occupational strength on land, sea and air in such a way that it will jeopardise the security of Indonesia as a whole,’’ he said.