South Celebes Assembly Meets July 24 (FBIS, 24 Jul 1950)

=== [PDF page 1] === SOUTH CELEBES ASSEMBLY MEETS JULY 24 Makassar, West Indonesian Regional Service, in Indonesian, July 24, 1950, 1030 GMT--B (text) "Following a 3-week vacation the South Celebes Representative Assembly resumed its session today, presided over by Chairman Mrs. Salawati. At this meeting the Territorial Chief and concurrently the Chairman of the Administrative Assembly of the South Celebes, Mr. Saleh Daeng Tompo, made an official statement, thanking the members of the Representative Assembly in electing him as chief and chairman of the Administrative Assembly of the South Celebes. [Unreadable] === [PDF page 2] === "[Unreadable] Saleh Daeng Tompo said that the task which was given to me is not easy and therefore I expect continuous moral and material support from the people, their leaders, and especially from members of this Assembly. In this way we will be able to cooperate and work in an orderly manner, and to preserve our independence by using our democratic rights." "He also stated that during the past months the people were carrying out destructive actions, paralyzing the administrative organs of East Indonesia, but added that the agreements between the RIS and the Indonesian Republic have spurred the people to concentrate their efforts on constructive activities. This is a matter for rejoicing, he said. In conclusion, he called on the people to exert their efforts more toward the reconstruction of their Nation. "It can be added that among the letters read by the secretary of the Assembly was a motion submitted by the socialist, democratic and republican factions, criticizing the appointment of Mr. Abdul Salam [Unreadable] (Magassar) as a member of the South Celebes Regional Assembly as not being made on the basis of a national election. To form a healthy and strong administration, the 3 aforementioned factions demanded the holding of new elections based on a proportional system. In this regard member Tjia Kok Tjhan rejected the appointment of Mr. Abdul Salam on the contention that such an appointment is not in the province of the Interior Minister but that it is the right of the [Unreadable]. Procedural matters which were submitted were ratified following some amendments. Meanwhile, member Haneng was elected as Assembly secretary to succeed Mr. [Unreadable] (Malad Jang Daeng Liwang) who was relieved from this post due to incapability. The Assembly then discussed the most important point on the agenda, namely the nonconfidence motion against Chairman Mrs. Salawati. This motion was submitted by the Bureau of the Followers of the Republic of Indonesia charging Mrs. Salawati as being inconsequent regarding the policies of the said Bureau. Because the discussions concerned Mrs. Salawati herself as Chairman of the Assembly, she proposed that Mr. Tjia Kok Tjhan preside over the meeting. In his statement, Mr. [Unreadable], in his capacity as one of the originators of the nonconfidence motion, said that Mrs. Salawati did not follow the policies of the Bureau. He requested that this motion be discussed and said that he would comply with the decision taken by the meeting." === [PDF page 3] === "[Unreadable] who also spoke on this matter asked why the Bureau submitted a candidate who at the same time was also a member of the People's Sovereignty Party and furthermore why it was done without knowledge of the person concerned. Member Ami Patapoi said in this regard that the motion did not deal with the policies of Mrs. Salawati in the Assembly but that it was concerned with the dual membership of Mrs. Salawati. "Mrs. Salawati was then requested to give further explanations on her stand in this connection. It can be added that Mrs. Salawati has made a request to resign her post as member and chairman of the Representative Assembly of the South Celebes in connection with the confused and heated debates concerning the nonconfidence motion."