West Irian Vote Interpreted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 15

West Irian Vote Interpreted

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) DJAKARTA, February 3. President Suharto said today he would regard any decision by the people of West Irian to leave the republic as treason against Indonesia.

In an interview at the presidential palace in Djakarta, he told N.Z.P.A.Reuter that any such decision would constitute a betrayal of the aims and achievements of Indonesia before and after its independence. Indonesia took over West Irian—then West New Guinea —from the Netherlands in 1962 after agreeing to hold an act of self-determination for the territory’s 800,000 people this year.

President Suharto was asked if, as a result of this act of self-determination, Indonesia would in principle be willing to accept an independent West Irian on its borders.

Speaking through an intepreter he said: “It was always the aim of the struggle of the Indonesian people from the colonial period until the proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, to have and to create a unitary State from Sabang (on the far-western tip of Sumatra) to Merauke (on the eastern border of West Irian). “From the beginning of our independence we have then tried to get this territory extended from Sabang to Merauke, step by step.” President Suharto said the last stage in establishing the unity and integrity of the republic was completed with

the Dutch handover of West Irian.

“Where some people will try to separate themselves from this unity and integrity, I think this will form treason towards our independence,” he continued. “I think also that this population of West Irian would be committing treason against the national struggle too.” The act of self-determina-tion is expected to be carried out in West Irian in the middle of this year. A United Nations envoy has arrived to assist and participate in the process as stipulated under the terms of Indonesia’s agreement with the Netherlands.