TENSION IN JAVA

Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 5

TENSION IN JAVA

FIGHTING OCCURS IN SOURABAYA INDONESIANS CONTROL NAVAL BASE (Rec. 8 p.m.) BATAVIA, Sent. 4. Although Batavia is fairly quiet, tension is mounting elsewhere in Java. The Indonesian Nationalists have acquired almost complete control of the big naval base of Sourabaya. Fighting broke out today between Japanese and Indonesians when a mob of 3000 Indonesians surrounded the Japanese Gestapo headquarters. No details are available, but it is known that there were casualties on both sides. The Nationalists control Sourabaya airfield, and are not allowing planes to land there. The Nationalists at Bandoneng apparently obtained many arms from the Japanese, including armoured cars, and appear to be in full control of the city. They have instituted a curfew, and the local police are taking orders from the local political leader. They are trying to keep the peace. The Japanese are demoralized and appear to be handing over arms under threats, rather than from any deliberate policy of backing the Nationalist movement. Nationalists controlling the local newspapers are pumping out virulent anti-Dutch propaganda. The conditions in Sourabaya and Bandoeng are not exceptional—a similar state prevails throughout Java, and the Nationalists, with every day that has passed, are strengthening their hold and becoming better organized. So far, there are no reports of the camps of interned civilians, scattered throughout Java, being molested. Members of the Allied War Prisoners Relief Organization are being respected. Things were quiet in Batavia during the day, but gangs of young Nationalists at night time, armed with knives, bamboo pikes and some with rifles, have begun establishing roadblocks.

There have been demonstrations outside Dutchmen’s houses but no incidents, apart from a few days which involved physical violence against the Dutch. British officers are being treated with respect. Two more Indian regiments have arrived in Batavia, and have joined the Seaforth Highlanders, and toe occupation of the city is proceeding smoothly. Looting continues, although on a diminished scale. Seaforth Highlanders’ patrols last night fired on looters and disarmed some marauding nocturnal bands. Hilvensum radio reports that the Government has ordered the transfer of 6500 Dutch troops from Britain to the East Indies. They are sailing next Monday. When interviewed by the Batavia correspondent of The Times, Dr Soekarno declared that he and his followers were strongly opposed to any landings by Dutch forces. He could not say what would happen if the Dutch did land.

NATIONALIST CLAIMS The people of Indonesia see the republic as already existing and complete with a Government in the capital and the provinces, says a letter signed by Dr Soekarno and Dr Hatta which Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Christison, the British commander, handed to the Lieutenant-Governor of the Netherlands East Indies, Dr Hubertus Van Mook. The letter adds that the people consider Indonesia for the time being occupied by Allied forces for the maintenance of public order, in which Indonesian officials readily assist. It says that when the Japanese were about to land their- slogan was “Indonesia for the Indonesians” and their Army was received with enthusiasm. Sympathy changed to hatred when liberty was not granted. The hoisting of the red and white flag was forbidden and the Indonesian anthem was not permitted to be sung. The people then knew that independence was not to be acquired under Japanese rule, but by having their own Government. On July 8 this year the Indonesians formed a preparatory independence committee, which was later transformed into a national committee and independence proclaimed, after which a president and a vice-president were chosen and a constitution drawn up. The plenary session of 150 members of the central national committee consisting of representatives from all strata of the population and all regions legalized the election and the constitution. The Japanese forbade any real measure of government, but the Indonesians considered the republic a reality and its officials as officials of the republic, with the hope that it would be recognized by the countries which were creating world peace on the principle of self determination.