Indonesia Wants

Earlier Wng

Takeover

Indonesia in November was pres ing to take control of West Ne Guinea by December 31, in contr vention of its UN-sponsored agre ment with Holland for a takeov< next May.

T'HE earlier takeover is the pri< A Indonesia is demanding for permit to allow KLM to land Djakarta—one of the routes tl Dutch airline had before diplomat relations between Holland and Ind< nesia were severed in 1961. Rel tions are shortly expected to be r established.

Indonesia’s acting President, D Djuanda, said in November: “If bo: sides agree that the territory shou be transferred to us before May the should be no reason for the UN object.”

Indonesia, which has boasted th West New Guinea would be hers b fore the end of 1962, apparently co siders it a point of honour to tal possession in fact as well as in su stance.

Other West New Guinea develo ments during November; • All top administrative positioi in West New Guinea formerly he by the Dutch are now held by U appointees, and many other publ service positions are held by Ind nesians. • A new daily newspaper. Tje derawasih (Bird of Paradise) has ai peared in Hollandia. with Papus leader E. J. Bonay as Editor-in-Chie Official Indonesian sources said ; objective of the paper was the pr paration of the Papuans for “welcor ing the territory’s reintegration wii the rest of Indonesia”. Bonay latt led an official delegation of Papuai to Indonesia. • The serious cholera outbrei continued to rage in the Southe areas of West New Guinea, wii many deaths reported. Australi; Minister for External Affairs, S Garfield Barwick, said the outbre; had caused Australia concern. At II request Australia sent two Am helicopters to Merauke to help it strict the spread of the disease. • Indonesian Foreign Ministe Dr. Subandrio, said Papuan leads would be screened for pro-Indonesi;i or anti-Indonesian sympathies whi Indonesia took over.