Airgram A-408: Joint Weeka no. 48, 21 Desember 1965

=== [PDF page 1] === Secret [Unreadable] DEPARIMGNT OF STATE Poa | < Leo A GSP 2 - BEST INFO: BAKSKOX, CANBERRA, COLOHBO, KARACHI, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, EZOAN, NAW DELEI, RANGOON, SAIGON, SIWGAPORE, SURAIMYA, TALPEL, TOKYO, CIUCPAC, CINCUSARPAC, COMFDC, COMBEVENTHFLT, COMMAPEIL, CIACPACAP, 13th AF Manila; Cdr. 0S Havel Forces Marianas; Cdr. Sth A3, Fuchu 48 dapan; Co. 500th Intec. Grp. anesbassy DJAKARTA JOINT WREKA BO. <@ (3 Decesber 21, 1965 This WEEKA covers the period December1l? to December 16, 1965 POLITICAL 1. Army Takes Another Bound in Anti-Sukarno Campaign 3. PRI Repression 3. Left-Wing PNI Takes Hore Setbacks 4. Economic Moasures PSYCROLCGICAL 5. US-indo Relations MILITARY 6. KEOTZ takes Over BP2 7. Mow 20STRAD Cosannder 8. Polish Attechos 9. Air Force Purges Begin SRCRET POL: K¥Trent/ECHowland:ds Secret ARMA~Col. Ethel AIRA~Col. Slade DECLASSIFIED Authority NW G12 34 HV. Trout ATT === [PDF page 2] === ssere Page 2; A-408 Prom Djakarta POLITIC 12 1. Army Takes Another found in Anti-@ukerno Campaign (SECRET) ®. The repertiug week continued te witness atriking Army success in drawing power under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Operations Command, or KOTI, which the Army intends will ultimately become a “super-Cabinet” enabling it to direct national policy. On December 10, a KOFI decree gave General Suharto the authority to appoint the sembers of the Rutreerdinary Military Tribunal which till] try the leaders of the September 30 Movement, as woll as to set court precedures and sorve as prosecutor. A few days later, om December 14, Gensral Suharto announced on the Palace steps that President Sukarno had appointed three Deputy Great Commanders of KOTI, namely, General Nasution for Military Affairs, Sultan Hamengkubuwone for Ecosonic and General Affairs, and Ruslan Abdulgaai for Bocial-Political Affairs. Subandric, who had originally been slated to receive the “General Aftairs” portfolio, was nowhere listed, and on the same day an item in Antara announced he would loave on 2 trip to the Netherlaads after the beginning of the new year. b. The Army thus appeared to have achieved all its objectives. But the real isport of tho Arny’s victory did not strike home until a few days later when, again on the Palace steps, Suharto announced that: (i) The Central Intelligence Buresu (BPI), the Subandrio document~fabricating and general surveillance Organization, will be withdrawa from the contrel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and incorporated into the Army-rus Mational Entelligeace Command, a sub-division of EOTI. (ii) The Supreme Econoaic Operations Command (S0TOR) will be dissolved, and along with the "Berdikari Oparations Command” (EOTARI) wil) be incorporated into the Berdikari Develepment Command under Sul tan Sanengkubuwono in EOTI. As well as another indicatica ef the Arny’s increasing power, this announcement reflected the supersassion of an earlier Aray decision to keep its hands eff the economy until ite continuing difficulties had blackened the military's adversaries. (iii) Cortaia Rinisters suspected of involvexent in the September 30 Movemcat will be tried as “rebels.” Suharto's reading of this announcement, according to an eye-witness, sent panic through the ranks of Ministers whe habitually turn up at the Palace every morning fer Sukharno's daily kffe-klatsch. === [PDF page 3] === BaNeT Page 3, A-433 From fjckarta (iv) The “Reikora welunteers” said to be 21 million stroag but actually rove im the viciaity of 40,000 to 50,000, will henceforth be ecporvised by a apecial IXTE sectien. Althovgh this is not teo clear, it appears to take the rospoasibility for these volunteers-~-an important Percentage of waom were centrolied by the °Ui---auny from the National Front, an orgeaisation which aysears ta be on its last lege anyway. 2. PRE Berression (CONPIDSHPIAL) a. Although Sukarno went to his most vitriolic and aagry lengths to dexcastrete his disagrecment with the present carpaign of repression against the PAI--~even threntening ageim to resign if the “jolts” were not stopped---it didn’t do a bit of goed. ‘Yhe “jolts”, which have sow resulted 4m an eatinated 106,000 FRE deaths, continued, as did the issuence of more statemzats by politicians and youth groups denouncing the idea of any rosurgent Lxarxist-Lerinist Party, as vell as reports that all scabers of the PRI politbure ere now dead or in custody except for one ssid ta be cut of the ccutry, and one who disappeared in August. Hot surprisingly, reliable reports indicate that the PKE---what is left of it---is rapidly lesing confidence in Sukarno's ability to protect it, and way resort to active defcnse if the situatiozs does cot iuprore hy Decasker 24. It is not likely to improve, but what capability tho PSY will have to cegin “active defense” by thet date is quits prohlenstical. db. A veliable Delinese scurce informed the Bobacsy that PFI deaths on the icland of Bali now tatal about 10,090, and incinde the parents and even distent relatives ef cryrto~cCosnenist Governor Sutedja, who fled with his wife to Djakarta after his house was burned down by demonstrators. Killing is continuing on the islend, wkich hed a strong PF end a right-wing FAI which cppesed it. 3. Left-Wiag PFI Tokes Nore fotzecks (COAYEDENEIAL) The Sukarno-supported, left-wing PRi led by Ali Eastroanidjejo and Ir. Surachman appears to hava suifcred sharp dofents this week in its duel with the ousted Nardi-fadisubone faction to control the Pi. Aces:ding to the ards tfaction’s nevspaper Barita Revuklix, John Lusirkeras, Deputy Secretary General of tke PHI and 2 chief Suracksan hstchket-xen, was arrestod along with four ether suspected Comrurist izfiltrotors ef the Pill. Moroover, althouga this is not ecmletaly confirmsd, it aproaza that Wect Java Military SE RET === [PDF page 4] === SUCEIT Page 4; A-408 Frean Dijekarta Coamanéer Generel Adjie withdrew his permission for the left-wing Par to hold a “Working Body Neoting” in Bandung Deceubor 16-20 which was ordered by Sukarno te cenclusively oust the Eardi-Herdisubenc faction from the party. it is true the meeting was not held, but the cause is net yet known; if it is true that Adjie hes deserted Sukarno, the Preaideat has lest the only real military ally be hed left. 4. Ecovemic Keasures (COMVIDENTIAL) a. Long~avaited measures to improve the state of tke Sadoucesian econoay began to appear during the reporting week. The preeoding week, Presideat Sukerne had confined 34 econemic Ministers to @ villa in the resort area of Tjipanas with instructions act te emerge without en econceic program. The Aray, at that time, was cool tovord these proceediags, and was said te have taken @ decision to keep ita hands off the econeny in order te allow its growing slide toward chacs/blacken the izege of its adversaries. db. The first couerete results ef the Tjipanas mectings came on Decenber 13, then Third Deputy Prine Minister Chaerul Saleh announced that all currency 4m circulation will be replaced by a¢w currency et a rate of 1,000 rupiah of old money to 1 rupinh of the new. The announcement sent & jolt through the nerkets for a day or two, hat following some stera exhortations agninst prico~raising end store-closing, things seenscd to have caleed down by December 17, with prices only slightiy above the previous meraal. ce. The Army, which had first opposed this step, is mow said to be behind it; Sultam Bamengkubuvenc himself, the new Deputy Groat Commander for Economic Affairs ef ZOTI, is even said to favor devaluation, as well as other nev yegulations believed to be ready for anncuacepent. 5. US-Endo Rslations (CONIDSNTEAL) a. Relations continue to hinge specifically on the position of the American of] eompanies and on Indonesian foclera Zor American aid (UEREA Mo. 47). im more general torus of Course the overall political develepmests, now accelerating at such a speed that sone significant early resolution secms inevitable, remain of dominating importance. === [PDF page 5] === SEAT Page 5; &~400 From Djakerta bd. The change of atmpsphere in relations between Indonesians and Americans has been conspicuous and increasingly warm cordiality hes been evident in secial gatherings as well es in more quiet contacts during the week. Indonesians not seen for months now freely greet American friends on public occasions. The passing of old pesters and signs directed viciously against the US, sexetives slong with other “ekolim” powers, continues to strike us as evidence of the new day. Although the removal of such signe of the old regime is not coaplete, the former eyesores are greatly reduced, At Senajan sports hall when Sukarno, appearing ia that large arena for the first time since Gestapu, addressed the 20th anniversary nesting of the wonen’s Perwari organization on December 17, there was no sign of such former garish propaganda as caricatures of Uncle Sam and similar tasteless and hostile presentations which used to accompany the Bung’s appearances. Bis attempt to rekindle his old oratory and to evoke the former ovations failed dismeliy in the new atmosphere. c. There are signs everywhere of re-avakexed intollectual curiosity as to what is going on in the outside world and especially is there an fasatieble interest ia what ethers think about Indoresien developments. People are bungry for US newspupers, mogatines, books and contacts. In the fantastic switch which has occurred over ten short weeks the Exbassy is busily doizg what it can to meet the need and to take advantage of now opportunities which a short tise ago would have seened impossible. While the press in general remains centered, not surprisingly, on internel developments, it has given good play to the extreordinary Gemini achievements of the past week, and the Yoreign Departaent’s Yerald of December 20 frontpages story under the head “Record Breaking Geuini 7 Roturns.” Bditorials in the same issue nevertheless regret that the United States, so advanced ecientifically, is behind the times in its policy om Vietnam. But Antara, long one of cur most articulate and harnful enemies, now under asw Araycontrolled managenent, has taken the occasion to emphasize what it has seen as hopeful signs for improved US-Indonesian relations, based on Ambassador Green's call on Suvito lest week. On the whole, a fresh breeze is biowing. 6. OTE Takes Over BPL (UNCLASSIFIED) &. Generel Subarte, Army Commander end Chief of Staff of KOTI announced December 18. that the Central Intelligence Body (BPI) will be SECRET === [PDF page 6] === SECRET Page 6; A-408 Fron Djekarta merged into the Rational Intelligence Command (KI#) which is subordinate to EOTI. b. COMMENT (CONFIDENTIAL): The BPI had been, in fact, Foreign Minister Subandrio’s private intelligence organization. 7. New EOSTRAD Commander (UNCLASSIFIED): Major General User Wirahadikusumah, the former Military Commander of KODAK ¥ (Greater Djakarta), was installed as the Commander of the Strategic Army Command (Z0STRAD) on Docezber 7. 8. Polish Attaches (UNCLASSIFIED): a Polish military attaches are accredited to Indonesia for the first time. Colonel Waclaw Mruglaski, Armor, and Major Yan Bietajec, Signal, recently made their first public appearances. Soth officers are accompanied by their families, and are on three year tours. b. COMMENT (CONFIDERTIAL): Bietajec has not participated in official calls and may remain in the background. Both officers seen to be attempting to cultivate U.S. Attaches. They look on their tours ina Indonesia with foreboding. AIR FORCE 9. Air Force Purges Begin (CONFIDENTIAL): As his firat official act after being sworn in as new Air Force Minister, Sri Muljono Nerlambang announced the retooling of Deputy Minister for Operations and Intelligence Devantce, who may go to Moscow as Air Attache after a brief, face-seving period in the status of “attached to the Minister.” The two Deputy Minister slots he held will now be occupied by the former Air Attaches to Canberra and Moscow. Yor the Ambassador: Ave V OG Mary Vance Trent First Secretary of Enbassy === [PDF page 7] === NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE National Security Archive, Suite 701, Gelman Library, The George Washington University, 2130 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20037, Phone: 202/994-7000, Fax: 202/994-7005, nsarchiv@gwu.edu