BRUNEI REBELS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30056, 14 February 1963, Page 13

BRUNEI REBELS

“Indonesia To Help”

(N.ZJ’.A.-Reuter— Copyright) DJAKARTA, February 13. The Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio) said yesterday that Indonesia would give its “full assistance” to the Brunei rebels to thwart the

efforts of the Malayan Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman) to bring the Borneo Territories into the proposed Malaysia Federation, the Indonesian Antara news

agency reported today. Although the rebel movement might have been weakened, its importance to Indonesia lay in its opposition to Malaysia, which would help prevent the Malayan Prime Minister “from extending his territory to the borders of the Republic of Indonesia.” Dr. Subandrio said the inclusion of North Borneo into Malaysia would not bring the people the independence they wanted. “Such action might even bring suffering to the Kalimantan Utara (North Borneo) people themselves,” he said. The Indonesian news agency said the Foreign Minister had made these remarks during an “exclusive" interview he gave to one of its reporters. British Attitude

Referring to the visit to Indonesia 18 months ago of Britain’s CommissionerGeneral in South-east Asia (Lord Selkirk), Dr. Subandrio said if ever Britain had been willing to “gauge Indonesian reaction” to Malaysia as far back as this why had Tunku Abdul Rahman never raised the question with its neighbour?

“Why should, in this matter, Tunku Abdul Rahman act rashly and arrogantly as if Malaya could dictate its wishes to its neighbours—its aspirations and aspirations of Tunku Abdul Rahman, are nothing but expansionism” he said.

Dr. Subandrio said some leaders of the abortive “colonels’ revolt” in Sumatra in 1957 were now living hi Kuala Lumpur, acting as "news links” with Indonesia. They were also being used as “evidence” of opposition in Indonesia to President Soekamo. He ridiculed what he called Malayan "arrogance” in hoping to be “an example to other newly-independent countries” and said Indonesian achievements were tenfold those of Malaya. "Tunku Abdul Rahman has really never been a fighter and possibly does not know politics and like a child is already satisfied with a fine-looking toy,” Dr. Subandrio said.

Space Flight— The manned spacecraft centre today announced that. Major Leroy Gordon Cooper’s attempt at a 22-orbit flight in a Mercury capsule had now been postponed until the middle of May.—Houston, Texas, Feb. 12.