‘POLICEMEN SURRENDER’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32011, 11 June 1969, Page 8

‘POLICEMEN SURRENDER’

Report From Djakarta (N.Z.P.A -Reuter— Copyright; DJAKARTA, June 10. Six West Irianese policemen who supported an uprising against Indonesian rule in the Central Western Highlands in April have surrendered to Indonesian troops, according to a Ministry of Information spokesman in Djakarta. “The policemen, led by Commissioner Mambrisau, gave themselves up with their weapons,” the spokesman said. “The situation in the highlands is now normal, security having been restored. • “The uprising began when a group of Irianese policemen fired at the aircraft carrying the West Irian military commander, Brigadier-General Sarwo Edhie, to Enarotali, in the highlands.” The Indonesian Foreign Minister (Mr Adam Malik) has dismissed as untrue foreign reports that Indonesian authorities in West Irian were intimidating the population to persuade them to remain loyal to Indonesia. Mr Malik told reporters: “There is no intimidation or pressure in West Irian. The West Irian people are being given a chance to choose whether or not .hey want to remain part of Indonesia.” The Deputy Forelgti Minister for West Irian affairs (Dr Sudjarwo) returned to Djakarta from West Irian today after observing the selection of the 1000 representatives who will make the act of free choice to decided the political future of the former Dutch territory, between July 10 and August 5.