Sukarno Attends Communist Rally

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30759, 25 May 1965, Page 19

Sukarno Attends Communist Rally

(N.Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

DJAKARTA, May 23

President Sukarno said today that “most” Afro-Asian countries did not want Malaysia in the second Afro-Asian conference in Algiers next month.

Speaking at a rally attended by 100,000 people to' celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Indonesian Communist Party, he said: “If countries are pro-Malaysia they had better stay outside the AfroAsian bloc. “I can say that most of thej Afro-Asian countries do not' want to have Malaysia in.” ! A mighty cheer went up as the President arrived by' helicopter to deliver the main address. Several thousand people j who could not get into the! stadium stood outside listen- , ing to the speeches and; massed bands and choirs* inside. Communist delegations i from eight overseas countries' are attending the celebrations —China, the Soviet Union. Albania. Japan. North Korea, Cuba, Rumania and North Vietnam. The Indonesian Communist Party claims three million i members and up to 20 million sympathisers in the country. Show of Strength Today’s rally followed a fortnight's show of strength! by the Communists, the • highlight of which was an 800-mile relay march from village to village from the far cast of Java to Djakarta. The party, already a powerful influencing force in Indonesian politics is seeking to widen its influence, particularly by increasing the number of its representatives in Indonesia’s cabinet in which it now has only two! members. Speeches at the rally were interspersed with drill-like dances and songs, including “Crush Malaysia.” The chairman of the Communist Party, (Mr D. N. Aidit) opened the speeches with an all round attack on imperialism and colonialism, and dismissed as untrue rumours that the organisation of today’s celebrations had caused starvation and price rises in villages. Attack on U.S. Mr Aidit made a long attack on the United States, particularly its policy in Vietnam and described America as “the satin of the world.” He again called on the Indonesian Government to seize and nationalise all United States enterprises in Indo-, nesia. Mr Le Due Tho, of the* North Vietnam Labour Party, | speaking as a representative, of the overseas delegations,, said Vietnam “was in thej midst of imperialist aggres-' sion” and this was why the' “Vietnamese people” were i taking up arms against thej United States.

He said repeated air attacks! by the United States “will not: stop us from fighting.” North Vietnam was muster- [ jng all her funds and forces; “to beat the agressors back.": Only when America left' Vietnam would the country: have peace. Mr Le Due Tho’s continuous anti-American refer-' ■ ences drew frequent applause; and cheers from his Indo-i nesian audience. After his 30-minute speech.; he presented Mr Aidit with! souvenirs, including banners: and weapons seized from I American forces in Vietnam j and wreckages from shot 1 down American aircraft. I