TRAP FOR TERRORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 5

TRAP FOR TERRORISTS

GORDON DRAWN ROUND BATAVIA JAVA TO BE MADE SAFE (Rec. ,12.45 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. The cautiously-worded and somewhat vague statement issued by General Christison (as above) is really an announcement that the Allied command, is finally taking measures to free, first Batavia, and later other parts of Java, from = say si he Australian Associated Press correspondent.

Action has already begun to make it possible for law-abiding people to go about their business m the capital without constant fear of being shot in the back by irresponsibles of all colours. '

Early this morning a cordon was thrown around Batavia. This vyill . ensure that terrorists cannot infiltrate in trains and cars along with peaceful; civilians. Within the cordon, all not authorised to carry weapons will be disarmed. The Indonesians are being asked to co-operate. General Christison called Drs Sjahrir and Sjarifuddin to his headquarters this morning and told them what had ben done and what was being done. He told them be wanted the use of the T.K.R. (peace preservation corps!, along with British and Indian troops, to carry out the task of creating safe zones in Java. It is understood that the T.K.R. will go through a cleaning-up process to sort out undesirables and then be put to work. It is not clear yet what action will be taken against proven terrorists who come into the dragnet, but at last it looks as if an end will be put to Batavia’s fantastic reign of lawlessness. HALF-WITS AND FANATICS ABROAD. Only in Batavia would it be possible to find the present paradox—a nominal state of order in which people go about, their daily tasks and yet where at any hour of the day or night an innocent, person may be killed by a chance bullet fired into the air by a half-wit or with chosen aim by a fanatic. ■ . General Christison’s main targets are the gangs of Indonesians, (Rampokkers, and Pemoedas, but they are not his only worry. A great deal of the trouble in Batavia is being caused by exinternee native troops under nominal Dutch control, and even Dutchmen who are slipping into Java in warships and merchantmen and roaming the city armed and uncontrolled. It 1 was such as these who held up Sjahrir yesterday and tried to take liis life. The infiltration of this element is having the effect of sabotaging British attempts to achieve a state of law and order with the least possible resort to force. General Cbristison had conferences this morning with Dutch and Indonesians and both parties, it is understood, somewhat surprisingly adopted a friendly and accommodating attitude.