Indonesia

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 16

Indonesia

Foreign affairs, and the truculent behaviour of Indonesia, did not play the large part in the New Zealand General Election campaign that they did in Australia. Indeed, both the main parties seemed content to observe a common silence on the ominous happenings in the near north. Events of the last few weeks can have left New Zealanders with little doubt, however, that this country cannot ignore the guerrilla campaign waged by President Soekamo against Malaysia, a fellow-member of the Commonwealth. As Sir Alan Watt, former Secretary of the Australian Department of External Affairs, said in an article recently reprinted in “ The Press ”, “ it is time " to discard optimistic inter- “ pretations of Indonesian policy that do not square “ with the facts ”. And the facts are that “confrontation ’ is only a euphemism for undeclared war in Borneo. The situation there much resembles the earlier emergency in the Malayan peninsula in which New Zealand troops gave good service. It will be difficult for the New Zealand Government to refuse similar help if it is asked for again, as the difficulties of British troops in repelling the hidden invaders suggest that it may be. President Soekamo's campaign is both offensive and defensive. Offensively, he is pursuing the imperialist

| ambitions encouraged by his 'appeasement in West New I Guinea, now bitterly re- . gretted by influential I American newspapers if > not by the American Gov- ' eminent, which put heavy pressure on the Netherlands to give way. No doubt ; President Soekarno hopes > that the tactics he used successfully in West New Guinea will bring the whole of Borneo under the Javanese Government. In addition, he remembers that Indonesian Borneo has not always been reconciled to rule from Djakarta. A highly successful Malaysia might ; tempt the peoples of Indo- | nesian Borneo to think of i independence again. Simi- * larly, his grip of Sumatra i is still weak, but would be | strengthened if he could , humble Malaysia. Indonesia I can be fairly sure that ■ Malaysia will remain on the defensive in the hope that I the dispute can be settled' ; without a full-scale war. ■ lin which’ Singapore could’ I hardly escape serious 'damage from the Russian jet bombers flown by the I Indonesian air force. Indoi nesia may not carry its ! provocation too far, because ■ it knows that, like Cuba, it i cannot expect help from the I Communist Powers except iin its own defence, and ; probably not then. However, Indonesia is unlikely ! to modify its present irritai tion tactics unless the Commonwealth and its allies, particularly the United .States, stand firm.