donesian Anarchy

[?] Our North

[?]Estern Frontier

donesian Anarchy Menaces N. Guinea

HE South Pacific countries cannot afford to ignore the march of events in Indonesia, fot only do the archipelagoes of ; former Dutch East Indies wide a land corridor through ich Asia already is marching jn the South Pacific; but ionesia still maintains its inter ttent howl that it should have isession of Western New Guinea nd Western New Guinea is very se to Australia and the South »t Pacific Islands, t is well to keep this historical uence in the forefront of our mory: . The Dutch were in possession the East Indies for over 300 ,rs, and up to 1942 they had re a huge tropical empire, peace orderly, contented and very ductive. It was South Pacific’s fer against Asia. . Japan invaded the East Indies ly in 1942, overwhelmed the tch, and set up a puppet Dvernment” of Indonesians, .ded by Soekarno. . When the Japanese were eated in 1945, Westerners erally expected that the Dutch ild be re-established in the East lies. Instead, the Socialists of tain and Australia (the latter by Dr. Evatt) combined with Anti-Colonialists of the United tes to destroy the Netherlands it Indian Empire, and create an dependent “Republic” of lonesia, headed by the former i collaborationist Soekarno. . During the last ten years, this called Indonesian Government carried the 80-millions country ai one political and economic ister to another. To-day, the uinistrative system, formerly Jelled on the European Parlia it system, is demoralised; the ntry is shot through with Siciency and corruption; and for last two or three years it has n on the verge of complete apse.

The Indonesians generally erate and unprepared for self ernment supplied a happy iting ground for gangs of pro iional politicians. Politically, the

■er are hopelessly divided

ween moderates, Leftist remists, and a couple of tightly t Moslem groups. . Very recently, Soekarno lounced that “western democracy failed”, and that “western locracy simply is not suitable Indonesia”. He has introduced a ernmental system of which ails are obscure, but which

dfrected bv d Soekarno a dictatorshi P directed by Soekarno.

Mp A ,

EANWHILE two great changes —one social and one political —have taken place Already, in 1942, there were between one and two million Chinese in Indonesia. As the Indonesians drove out the Dutch, millions more Chinese moved in. and quietly and steadily have taken possession of the country’s economy, Simultaneously, the Communist Party has made enormous gains, In the original post-war “Parliament”, the Communists were a negligible, small group. To-day, after taking fullest advantage of the political confusion, they hold important places in the general administration, and—in the last three months—they have become the dominant influence in local government—especially in the large cities.

It is not claimed that there is a direct connection between the growth of the Chinese population, and the growth of Communist power; but the two things have occurred almost simultaneously.

Soekarno’s new set-up was made

for Communist penetration. The Reds Wl p be in c h arge there within a year or two.

Late in September, the United Nations General Assembly voted 49 to 21, in favour of permitting still another discussion of Indonesia’s claim to sovereignty over Western New Guinea.

Britain, Australia, France, and New Zealand joined with the Netherlands in fighting strongly against another such useless dis cussion—but they were overwhelmed by the Afro-Asian group, plus the indifferent Europeans, The British countries—which now recognise the danger that lies in irresponsible, Communist - ridden Indonesia are likely to be embarrassed by the pending UNO discussion. They get exactly what they deserve. It was they, with United States, who connived ten years ago at the removal of the Dutch, who would have held the East Indies corridor firmly against Asians and Communists, Unless the present trends are checked, Indonesia soon will have Western New Guinea, and the Communists soon will have Indonesia.