TRIBES UNITE
Fighting In West Irian (N.Z. Press Ann.—Copyright) DJAYAPURA (West Irian), May 9. About 30,000 Kepakau tribesmen who revolted in the mountainous Enarotali region of West Irian have apparently taken to the jungle to wage a hit-and-run guerrilla war against Indonesian paratroppers sent in to crush the uprising. Unconfirmed reports say that some 15 Indonesian soldiers* have been killed in sporadic fighting, which broke out about May 1. There appeared to be a well-planned move against the authorities in several places in West Irian, the primitive tribes having put aside traditional enmity to unite against the Indonesians. The uprising was planned for May 1, the date set by West Irian secessionists for co-ordinated protests in the territory against the Indonesian implementation of the act of free choice in July, in which the territory will decide its future.
There has been growing discontent among the Irianese over what they say was Indonesian tyranny in the consultations to determine the territory’s wishes in the act of free choice.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19690510.2.116
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 13
Word Count
167TRIBES UNITE Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 13
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.