Indonesia
Sir,—What is this bogyman, “communism,” Mark Sadler carries around with him? He writes of the intolerance resurrected in countries where communism has come into power, and of the spread of such ideas threatening to put the human race back hundreds of years. Detention without trial is not uncommon in a number of countries, 1 and the detainees are not all Communists. Mr Sadler insists that “real progress can only result from fundamental reforms within democracies,” but Indonesia cannot be described as a democracy, nor yet Communist, and I would remind those who unthinkingly denounce communism that Unparalleled progress has taken place in Russia in the last 50 years and in China just over 20 years. Conditions in both countries before the takeover were for the common men indescribable. Ron O’Brien’s description of Communists held in Indonesian gaols as progressive is correct. Neither • the West can lay claim to true democracy nor the East to true communism; both are in the throes of progressing towards these ideals.—Yours, C C " R. J. GLEN. February 23, 1872.
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Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 12
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175Indonesia Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 12
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