INDONESIAN PREMIER

Evening Star, Issue 25676, 27 December 1945, Page 5

INDONESIAN PREMIER

SHOT AT IN BATAVIA REBELS ALLEGE ATTEMPTED MURDER (Rec. 1.30) BATAVIA, Dec. 26. Dr Sjalim- had a narrow escape from death to-day when he was repeatedly fired on from another ear by a party of Dutch native troops while driving in a suburb of Batavia. The British authorities as a result of dose investigation discovered beyond doubt that the Dutch native trops did not kuow who the occupant of the car was, and ■they intended only to confiscate an Indonesian vehicle. The Indonesian Ministry of Information said t.he incident was attempted assasinaiion, and that a British military police arrived just in time to save Dr'Sjahrir. The Australian Associated Press correspondent at Batavia said the car containing the Dutch native troops drew alongside Dr Sjahrir’s car. One of the troops opened fire with a revolver. After forcing Sjahrir to stop, the assailant with the revolver again fired, but the weapon failed to fire. A party of about 20 native troops nearby closed around Sjahrir and roughly handled him. At that moment the .British military police car arrived and four of .Sjahrir’s original assailants were ar- - rested, but the one who fired the revolver was said to have escaped. The .correspondent adds that the neighbourhood was the scene of considerable shooting earlier in the day, and excitement was still high when Sjahrir drove by. The Indonesian Premier’s experience is typical of the large number of incidents which result'from the presence of trigger-happy individuals loosely referred to as Dutch native troops, who are finding their way into Batavia despite Allied commands.