Indonesia Ready For Talks With Malaysia

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31060, 16 May 1966, Page 14

Indonesia Ready For Talks With Malaysia

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter —Copyright) DJAKARTA, May 15. The Indonesian Government today proposed direct peace talks with Malaysia at Foreign Ministers level and President Sukarno said he was willing to meet the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

A statement about the peace offer was issued after the President and his leading advisers emerged from a four-hour meeting at the presidential summer palace at Bogor, in the west Java hills.

The statement, read out by Colonel Sunarjo, spokesman for the Indonesian “Crush

Malaysia” command, said that the meeting discussed the results of confrontation in all fields and Indonesia’s plans to recognise Singapore. “The Indonesian Government is of the opinion that its intention to recognise Singapore is a step in line with its confrontation within the present state. “Confrontation will continue, but the door for peaceful settlement on the basis of the Manila agreements is still open. “This can be implemented

directly without mediation and can be on a foreign ministerial level.”

President Sukarno, who was present, said “I am willing to talk with the Tunku.” Indonesia was going to recognise Singapore, be said, but no date has yet been set Indonesia launched a confrontation policy against Malaysia in January, 1963, eight months before the Malayasia Federation was formally inaugurated. The Indonesians rejected Malaysia as a neo-colonialist structure and sent guerrillas into the Federation’s two Borneo states —Sarawak and Sabah.

Britain, the former ruler of the federal territories, has deployed about 50,000 troops in the area to help Malaysia meet the Indonesian threat.