Ambonese Seek

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From Australia

IN August, by a series of smart political manoeuvres, the anti-European Jav anese who, with Japanese support, formed the “Republic of Indonesia” in 1945, succeeded in having their “Republic” substituted for the Federal body (the Republic of the United States of Indo nesia) which was accepted as the basis of the agreement between the Nether lands and the Indonesians at the con ference at The Hague in November, 1949.

There were 16 States in the original.

Federation plan. There are only 10 in the Javanese plan; and the peoples of the eastern parts of the archipelagoes, who were promised at least nominal in dependence under the Federation, are now brought almost completely under the cor rupt and aggressive Javanese Republic.

Although there is much discontent, only one of the eastern States has revolted— the Moluccas. There has been some savage fighting there between the Jav anese and the Ambonese, who have been helped by Dutch elements.

In August, the following appeal was received by the editors of a number of Australian newspapers: We should like to tell the people of Australia of the plight of our countrymen on the islands of Ambon in the Moluccas, lying north of Australia".

The Ambonese are a proud, courageous race, because they are standing up for their rights for self-determination (which was granted to them at the round-table conference between the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia).

They are out of all food, and, for many weeks, they have been denied by the In

donesian Government (which blockaded the islands) medical supplies and com munication with the outside world.

Your Australian representative at UNO has always upheld the rights of minorities to self-determination. We have appealed to UNO and to the Netherlands Govern ment to intervene in this situation which has arisen, but, so far, no help has come.

Because Australia is our nearest and most important neighbour, we hope that the Australian representative at UNO will raise our case with that organisation as soon as possible before our free country is annexed by force.

Both Mr. Spender and Dr. Evatt pro tested against Dr. Soekarno’s claims on New Guinea.

The belt of defence for Australia does not only include New Guinea, but the islands of the South Moluccas as well.

These islands were used by the Japanese in World War II as bases of operations against Australia. There, on these islands of the South Moluccas, begins Australia’s defence.—E. A. KAIJADOE, J. PATTY (Org. of South Moluccans in the Nether lands) .