Formosa Barred From Games

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29906, 21 August 1962, Page 13

Formosa Barred From Games

(N -Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) HONG KONG, August 20. The Asian Games Federation should cancel this year’s competitions in Djakarta forthwith if Indonesia failed to fulfil its obligations as host, the Hong Kong “Tiger Standard” said today. “Indonesia’s injection of politics into the Asian Games is vehemently to be condemned,” the Chinese-owned newspaper said in an editorial.

“Djakarta is, no doupt. keeping Taiwan (Formosa) out of the games because it feels indebted to Moscow. The games stadia have been built, and other preparations carried out, with Russian funds. The Indonesian Government therefore feels it must, in return, serve Communist political interests at the games.

“But this is an explanation. not a justification. As the host country, it is Indonesia's bounden duty to see that politics do not enter into the organisation of the games.

“By injecting politics into them herself, Indonesia has not only grievously failed in her duty as host, but has also made a mockery of the whole spirit of the games.” In Kuala Lumpur, the English - language “Malayan Times” said today that the International Olympic Committee could be re quested to expel Indonesia and thereby disqualify it from future Olympic Games in connexion with Formosa’s troubles over the Asian Games. “But the chances of this are slim, since Indonesia will command more support than Formosa among the members of the committee,” the newspaper said in an editorial. "All dressed up and nowhere to eo —that's the plight of the Nationalist Chinese contingent to the fourth Asian Games, cooling its heels impatiently in Formosa and writing for word from Djakarta on it* participation.

“On August 5 it received from Djakarta a parcel said to contain identity cards—the package was filled with useless blanks.

“Repeated Taipeh pleas have not brought any action from Djakarta. Formosa has now sent an ultimatum with the deadline expiring at mid-

night on Wednesday,” it said. The editorial said Formosa could ask the Asian Games Federation to declare the Games in Djakarta invalid before they begin on Friday.

"At this late hour, the measure must be ruled out. since national teams are in Indonesia now or on the way. By the looks of things, Taiwan may become a casualty of the cold war and not be allowed to participate in the Games."

In Singapore, the Englishlanguage "Straits Times,” in an editorial on the same subject, said: "Indonesian political sympathies ought not to prevail. There is a chance that they will, however, for the hour is late and few of the national committees will be prepared to make a stand strong enough to compel Indonesia to keep politics out of sport. “Hope that this unpleasant contretemps will be resolved now rests on quiet talks behind the scenes, but if the Asian Games Federation has any self-respect, it will make it unmistakably plain to Indonesia that its present behaviour will not do.”