Port Moresby

Indonesians No Great Help In Port Moresby

When the Indonesian training ship “Dewarutji” sailed out of Port Moresby on July 28 after a two-day “goodwill visit” she left in her wake charges that cadet officers aboard had spread anti-Dutch propaganda among New Guinea native school child ren.

Two Roman Catholic lay teachers and a mission supervisor complained that native pupils they took on board the vessel had been taken aside by cadets and told, “we will take West Irian (Nether lands New Guinea ) in a war. But we are your friends”.

Port Moresby residents noticed that “Dewarutji” crew members were particularly friendly with natives, and frequently got them into groups for a quiet lecture.

Some crew members also swapped addresses with native children and promised to be their pen-friends.

Neither the master of the train ing vessel, nor the Administration, had any official comment to make about the charges. But it is under stood that the Administration in formed the master that the actions of the crew could “create diffi culties”.

In Canberra, an Indonesian Embassy spokesman said they couldn’t help it if the crew were

“being friendly”.

The 847-/ou barquentine, with a complement of 145, visited many Australian ports on her tour.

The photo at top (by Papuan ™f) shows guards alongside the “Dewarutji" at Port Moresby wharf, with local natives sur rounding her.