West Irian Or Ng?
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
Armed Forces in PNG which in peacetime can be employed for developmental purposes.
In September, 1963, Australia reinforced its troops in PNG with the formation of Battalion II of PIR soldiers posted in Vanimo which directly borders Irian Jaya, while the First Battalion was stationed in Lae.
During Sukarno’s ‘Confrontation’
Australia anticipated the possibility of Indonesia’s ambition to take over the whole island. With Sukarno’s downfall and with Indonesia’s cessation of its ‘Confrontation’, the number of soldiers m PNG was cut down. nro S c^oes not mean, however, that PIR battalions have been withdrawn a o g u er j a.xi mi * Robert J. O Neill, a former officer of the Australian Army—who is menticmed in Parengkuan’s article— warned m his “Canberra Papers on Strategy and Defence ’ that “although Indonesia has terminated its confrontation policy, this does not mean that a policy a la Sukarno could not tiappen again”
Samuel Pardede, another Indoaesian journalist, in his article, Negative Voices against the Indo- Tesian Repubhc have been neutralised (Smar Harapan, Jan 3, 1974) >aid, inter aha; “Before, there were
many negative voices in PNG against Indonesia, and there was widespread anxiety about territorial expansion by Indonesia. However, these voices have been gradually eliminated ever since an Indonesian Consulate- General was established in Port Moresby, three months ago”.
Pardede is also the author of a series of articles, appearing in Sinar Harpan, under the title, “Papua Niu gini after Self-Government”. In the January 7, 1974 issue he wrote: “Not so long ago, voices could be heard, particularly of PNG people living in the area bordering Irian Jaya who were discontented with the border agreement. People in Vanimo have criticised the agreement, because—as they said—fishermen from the Irian Jaya side have been also fishing in PNG waters, to the disadvantage of the PNG population living in the northern coastal districts”.
Mr Pardede wrote further: “Self government brings the country one step closer to its independence, to be conveyed in 1975 at the latest. It goes without doubt that independence which is merely promised and trans ferred, must have a different value from independence that had to be paid with blood as was the case with Indonesia’s struggle for freedom”.