FIGHTING IS FLARING UP IN JAVA AGAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 September 1948, Page 5

FIGHTING IS FLARING UP IN JAVA AGAIN

(N. Z. P. A. —Reuter—Copyr igh t) Recd. 8.45 p.m. Batavia, Sept. 14. Fighting had flared up in the Surkarta, the second biggest Republican city in Central Java, the Antara news’ agency reported today. It is believed in Batavia that it involves the armed youth movement of Pesindo. which last week joined the Indonesian Communist Party and unspecified political opponents.

Some observers in Batavia consider the fighting may be a prelude to a large-scale conflict between Republican Communists and supporters of the Hatta coalition Government. The Moslem party, the Masjumi, and the Nationalist Party—principal supporters of the Hatta Government—have refused invitations from the Communists to join a National Government. A National Cabinet has been advocated by Communists since the recent return from Moscow of the Indonesian Communist leader Muso, and the sudden switch to Communism of the former Socialist Premier, Sjarifuddin, who signed the Renville Agreement last January. According to unofficial reports from Jogjakarta. Sjarifuddin is now organising the defence section of the Communist Party. Following the failure of the Good Offices Committee to obtain an overall settlement there is a growing militant feeling in the republic, say observers in Batavia and the Communists are organising it to overthrow the Hatta Government. Hatta is expected to take strong measures against any violence, and has a specially selected and trusted division of troops in the vicinity of Jogjakarta. Unofficial sources said the Surakarta fighting followed a call from the Pesindo Central Council to comrades in the Army and police to join with labourers, farmers and youth in wiping out what it called Fascist elements.

Antara reports say ten Idonesians were kidnapped at Surakarta, including Dr. Muwardi, chairman of a new people’s revolutionary movement. The Republican Government appealed to the people not to take arbitrary action and emphasised that the Government is determined to take strong measures against lawless elements. Reports from Blitar, Republican East Java, said the police yesterday began operations against armed elements and had been successful in disarming them. The Batavia newspaper “Het Dagblad” reported the murder by a gang of about 100 Indonesians of Mr. G. J. Nyhuis, son-in-law of the Dutch naval commander, Admiral Helfrich. The gang last. Sunday attacked a plantation in West Java, where Nyhuis was employed.