INDONESIANS SURRENDER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29850, 16 June 1962, Page 13

INDONESIANS SURRENDER

Convinced By Pamphlets

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) HOLLANDIA, June 14

The Dutch have achieved one of their greatest single successes in their campaign against Indonesian paratroops in West New Guinea—without firing a shot. A communique issued in Hol la nd la today said a paratroop captain last night led "a great number” of paratroops to a Dutch post where they surrendered with their arms and equipment.

The men came in waving parachutes as white flags and carrying pamphlets dropped by the Dutch urging them to give themselves up.

The captain, named Kartawi, was commander of the 4th Company, Banteng (Wild Buffalo) Raiders' Battalion. It is believed the surrender took place in one of the areas where fanatical Indonesian commandos shot some of their own men earlier this month to stop them surrendering, but it is not known whether Kartawi was one of the officers involved.

The Dutch began dropping pamphlets when Indonesian prisoners disclosed they had been told not to surrender because the Dutch would kill them, and that some paratroops remaining in the jungle were afraid to give themselves up because of this. Today’s communique said the Dutch continued their patrol actions in all areas where paratroops were dropped, and killed or captured an undisclosed number of Indonesians, apart from those who came in with Kartawi.