TIES WITH S. AFRICA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30214, 20 August 1963, Page 13

TIES WITH S. AFRICA

Indonesia Withdraws (N Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright) DJAKARTA, August 19. Indonesia has severed trade relations with South Africa and closed its ports to South African vessels as a protest against apartheid. A Foreign Minirtry announcement said today Indonesia had decided to tall in line with a United Nations General Assembly resolution requesting world-wide discrimination against tihe South African Government for is racial laws. The announcement said Indonesia undertook not to recognise South Africa dtplomaticailly (there are no existing diplomatic relations between tlhe two countries) and to close its ports to South African ships. It also would fnrtruct Indonesian vessels not to enter South African porta, would stop exports to the country and refuse to accept any imports. Indonesia would also refuse to grant landing facilities or air route* to South African Government aircraft. Indonesia's export tirade with South Arfica—in tea, spices and oil—has dropped sharply in recent years. In 1961 Indonesia exported 83 tons of tea, 65 tons of copel spice and 5266 tons of oil to South Africa. Last year's exports were 14 tons of tea and 1600 tons ot oil, according to official figures Foreign economic rotations authorities in Djakarta said today exports to South Africa were now almost nil Indonesia did not import goods from South Africa, they said.