Recognise the Indonesian just claim: Unite to build friendship! (Tribune, 10 Januari 1962)

10 Jan 1962 - RECOGNISE THE INDONESIAN JUST CLAIM Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 10 January 1962, page 1 0: \ v J "1 5 M 196Z I RECOGNISE THE INDONESIANJUST CLAIMUNITE TO BUILD FRIENDSHIP!Indonesian President Soekarno has formally proclaimed West Irian as an province of the Republic of Indonesia, as part of the rightful struggle to free this territory from Dutch imperialist rule.The decision stipulates that the new province, which will _ enjoy full autonomy in unified Indonesia, covers the territories now occupied byThe Diiteforcolomal rulers."THE Governor will be a West Irian national. An explanatory note accompanying the proclamation said. that unlike the Dutch system of a "puppet" Papuan state with a Dutch Governor, the Indonesian concept provided for real "internal self-determination.", The onus now clearly rests with the Dutch colonialists to withdraw from the territory tney have con-inued to forcibly occupy in violation of the Agreement concluded following the 1945 Revolution that all former Netherlands East Indies territory would be handed over to the Republic of Indonesia. West Irian, under Dutch occupa-tion, has represented a constant source of threat of imperialist aggression against the Republic of — Indon esi a,,- ' For twelve years or more the Indonesian Government has sought through patient negotiation to have the Dutch Government- honor its agreement, but has met with resistance and refusal all along the line, including the General Assembly of the United Nations, acting under United States influences.MENZ1ES' POLICY FOR IMPERIALISMWhen the Dutch were driven out of Indonesia in 1945 they managed by fraud and subterfuge to cling to a foothold in West Irian. Here they have continued to build up their military forces in the -vain hope that they would someday be able to re-establish domination over their former island empire. It is on these facts that Indonesia's sharpened demands for West Irian rest — facts which the Menzies Government and Australian imperialists have stubbornly refused to recognise. Fa9se front Behind its false front of talk of a desire for "friendly relations with Indonesia," the Menzies Government and its monopoly backers have always sided with the Dutch imperialists and stood against the basic liberation movement of the Indonesian people.A recent illustration of this is Australian Government support for the belated Dutch Government discovery of the "principle of self-determination" for West New Guinea. This principle is never mentioned by the Dutch Government in relation to its other colonies, nor by the Menzies Government in relation to the struggling peoples of Vietnam, Laos and elsewhere. The Menzies Government has done this not so much in the interests of the wealthy Dutch monopolies as in the interests of defending the imperialist system of- exploitation generally in the entire region, and more particularly in the interests of the expanding imperialist interests of Australian monopolies in New Guinea and elsewhere. Last year the Menzies Government, ignoring protests from Aus-tralian peacelovers, provided facilities in Australian ports for Dutch warships carrying troops and supplies to West Irian. Two weeks ago, the Government issued a statement containing veiled threats and accusing the Indonesian Government of "breach of faith." So powerful was the, indignant reaction in Indonesia that, last week, possibly also under United States pressure to "go carefully," a further Australian Government public statement was made. The second statement contains the useful recognition that there is "no evidence whatever- of any present threat to Australia," but in reality is merely an attempt to clothe the basic policy of hostility to the Indonesian rational liberation movement in "softer" words.CALWELL REFLECTS MONOPOLY UNEMore clearly revealing the real ambitions of Australian imperialism for increased profitable investment in the islands to the north is the bellicose campaign mounted by such organs as the Sydney Morning Herald, mouthpiece of a powerful monopoly grouping, for a "strong 6tand" against a non-existent "threat to Australia." The campaign, which has attracted the support, of militarist elements, is based on policies that can only create tension, hostility and the danger of war between our two nations. Such policies must be exposed ar d isolated by the Australian people.The The extreme position of the "Herald" group has also been reflected in a very disturbing way in the violent and unprecedented outburst of Australian Labor Party Federal Parliamentary Leader, A. A. Calwell. Sharp attacks He attacked Indonesia's President Soekarno as a "dictator," likened him to Hitler at the time of Munich, spoke of his "menacing" speeches and "worthless promises," predicted Indonesian attacks on Australia and demanded the return of Australian troops from Malaya to "ew dispositions based on a policy of hostility to Indonesia This followed an earlier "Calwell call for Australian troops' inclusion iri some "UN force" to "defend" West Irian. These attacks are based on untruth and they run sharply counter to the tradition and desires of the broad Australian labor movement. The Australian working class opposed Dutch. colonialism and supported Indonesia's struggle for independence in 1945 and after. Scdid large sections of Australian servicemen in World War II. The pressure of this mass movement ensured that the Labor Government of the day respected the historic Indonesian struggle. This Australian working people's stand created the basis for real lasting peace and friendship between the two peoples. Policy "change11 Mr. Calwell's outburst also reveals that he does not in fact subscribe to the positive tone and policies advanced in the official ALP policystatement published in the recent Federal election campaign. That election proved that the gieat majority of Australians firmly reject the imperialist and militarist policies of the. Menzies Government, and have given support to an ALP policy that called for struggle for peace, disarmament and a break with the Menzies bard militarist SEATO policy. What the Australian people clearly want is a continuation of the fight to eliminate the Menzies-type policies and the Government itself. Continued on Page 2Indonesian women delegates give their President Soekarno an enihusiastic welcome as he | arrives to address them at the opening night, in Jakarta, of the recent Gerwani National Congress, representing H million organised women. The scene typifies mass support by > Indonesian people today for the liberation of West Irian (see Page 3).INDONESIA t CONTINUED FROM PACE I:That struggle cannot be won by the recent Calwell attempts to outdo Menzies In warlike posturing. ALP differences However, such statements do not constitute the voice of the Australian working people, or of Labor Party members and supporters or even sections of the ALP leading circles.. Immediately following Calwell's outburst came a sharp comment from the New South Wales Senator J. Ormonde, declaring that he would never support the shedding of "one drop of Australian blood" in defence of Dutch.interests in New Guinea. Mr. E. J. Ward, MHR (East Sydney) condemned policies of "earning the enmity of millions of Asian people, many of whom previously displayed friendship to this country."' Other spokesmen in the Labor Party have been quoted as warning against "belligerent gestures" towards Indonesia. Independent policy These statements express in part the real desire of the Australian people for a new, independent Australian foreign policy for peace and friendship with all peoples, particularly including our nearest neighbours, the Indonesian people. Only policies which express thatft-desire can unite the Australian people to defeat the discredited Men- f| zies Government and its line. It is urgent that Mr. Calwell and his associates realise this and alter || their policies accordingly. $$ The Communist Party's policy, expressed clearly more than once ||i in official statements jointly with, the Communist Party of Indonesia, c is the only expression by any || Australian politicial organisation of a sound policy for lasting peace and friendship with the Indo- -;0 nesian people. It calls for the return of West Irian to the Republic of Indonesia s|| and for a "completely free and ||| independent and peaceful republic f|| of Indonesia"; for a policy of "good || neighbourly relations" and an Aus-tvalian-Indonesian pact of peace |g|£ and friendship leading to the growth |Ei of all-sided exchanges. Indonesia's fight for independence a.j a State will not be completed until West Irian, the last piece of Indonesian territory occupied by the V-0. Dutch, is freed. © Page 3: What Indonesian $ people think; and Australian ser- $%: vicemen's aid to Indonesian revo-;;; lution. ® Page 10: Profiteers in New!'/! Guinea.