IndonesiaBetweenthePowerBlocs

ByMohammadHatta
Sumber:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/indonesia/19580401/indonesiabetweenpower
blocs

INDONESIA,richinnaturalresourcesandhaving84,000,000inhabitants,comesautomaticallyasan
importantfactorontothechessboardofworldpolitics.Itisnotsurprising,then,thattheWesternpress
hasbeenaskingquestionsrecentlyaboutthedirectionofIndonesianforeignpolicy.Willsheturnher
backontheWestandmoveclosertotheCommunistcountrieswhosecenterofattractionisMoscow?
Noneofthepoliticians,diplomats,journalistsorbusinessmenwhohaveoccasiontovisitIndonesiacan
keepfromspeculatingonthissubject.
AnyonewhoremembersmyarticleonIndonesianforeignpolicyinthisreviewinApril1953willnot
lightly jump to any such conclusion. Our policy is independent and activeindependent because
Indonesiadoesnotwishtoalignherselfwitheitheroftheoppositionblocs,theWesternblocorthe
Communistbloc;[i] activebecauseitactivelycarriesoutapeacefulpolicyasaloyalmemberofthe
UnitedNations.InviewofheroriginsandheraimsasamemberoftheUnitedNations,theRepublicof
IndonesiawillrallytoeveryeffortwithintheframeworkoftheUnitedNationstodoawaywiththe
controversybetweenthetwoblocs,oratleasttogrindoffitssharpness,andinthismannertohelp
wardofflargescaleconflictsthatmightsetoffathirdworldwar.Thispolicyofpeacetookshapein
thewellknownResolutionpassedbytheAsianAfricanConferenceatBandungin1955.
TheRepublicofIndonesiahasnodesiretosetupathirdblocinpartnershipwiththestatesofAsiaand
Africa.ShewishestoseeameetingfromtimetotimeamongtheAsianandAfricanstates,likethatof
1955,asa"moralunion"whichcaninfluence,intheinterestofpeace,thosestateswhicharebanded
intoblocs.
By practising her independent and active policy Indonesia endeavors to seek friendship with all
nationswhatever their ideology or form of governmentupon a basis of mutual respect. She is
preparedtoaccepttechnical,materialandmoralhelpfromanycountrywhatsoever,providedonlythat
the donor government does not interfere in our domestic affairs or weaken or threaten our
independenceandsovereignty.Herpolicywillnoteasilyundergochangebecauseitstemsfromcertain
fundamental causes. Among these are certain natural factors, such as our country's geopolitical
position, its national history, and the state ideology known as panchasila: Divine Omnipotence,
humanism,nationalism,democracyandsocialjustice.
Duringthefreedommovement,Indonesianleadersaskedthepeopletostrivefortheattainmentofan
independent, sovereign, united, just and prosperous nation. Since the struggle succeeded in the
achievementofafreeandsovereignIndonesia,theGovernment'sprimarytaskhasbeentomakeit
united,justandprosperous.Itwilleasilybeunderstoodthat,inordertocarryoutthistask,Indonesia
needspeaceandfriendshipwithothernations.Sheisrichinnaturalresources,butsheisstillyoungas
anationandishandicappedinnearlyeverything;shemusthavematerialandintellectualhelpfromthe
outsideworld.Thisisonemorereasonwhichmakesitincumbentuponhertopractiseapolicyofbeing
afriendofall,anenemyofnone.Herownideologythepanchasila,whichgraduallyassumedshape
during the struggle for freedomand the religious feeling which is present in nearly the whole
population,preparehertocoperatewiththestatesoftheWestwithoutbeingreluctanttobeonterms
offriendshipwiththeCommuniststates.Shewellunderstandsthepolicyofcoexistenceandnon
interference.Thus,stateswithadifferentideologyfromourscanreadilyexistpeacefullysidebyside
withusprovidedoneabsoluteconditionismetabstinenceofeachfrominterferenceintheinternal
affairsoftheother.

Werealizethatdifficultiesareinvolvedincarryingoutthisprovisoofnoninterference.Ademocratic
countryhasnopossibilityofinterferingintheinternalaffairsofaCommuniststate,sinceeverything
thereisundergovernmentsupervisionandnofreedomofexpressionexists.Thingsaredifferentina
democraticstate.Forexample,evenifSovietRussiamakesanagreementofcoexistenceandnon
interventionandundertakesnottointerveneinanothercountry'sinternalaffairs,theCommunistParty
therewillneverthelessfollowapolicyinaccordancewiththedirectivesemanatingfromMoscow.This
isariskwhichademocraticstatewhichholdstothethreefreedomsofexpression,movementand
assemblymustbepreparedtoaccept.Ademocraticstateshouldhavesufficientconfidenceinthe
strengthofitscitizens'spiritoffreedomandsenseofresponsibility.Whenademocraticstateisableto
provideaprosperouslifeforitscitizens,theinfluenceofCommunismwillnotbegreat.Conditionsand
experienceintheWesternworldprovethistruth.
Inhistreatiseon"HistoricalMaterialism,"Marx'scollaboratorFriedrichEngelspropoundedasthe
verykernelofhistheorythat"itisnottheawarenessofmanwhichdetermineshisconditionbut,onthe
contrary,itishissocialconditionwhichdetermineshisawareness."Thisstatement,previouslychiefly
usedtoanalyzetheattitudeofcapitalistsandthechurch,nowappliestolaboritself.Whenthelaboring
classeslivedinmisery,theirattitudewasrevolutionary,butwhentheirsocialconditionimprovedtheir
revolutionaryspirit evaporatedandtheiroutlookbecameevolutionary.ForthisreasonCommunist
infiltration could be withstood and eliminated by a sound economic policy. Whenever a non
Communist government can provide increasing economic benefits for its people it will offset the
demandsputforwardbyCommunismandprogressivelylessenitschancesofexpansion.
Generallyspeaking,theIndonesianpeopleplacetheirfaithinreligion,andreligionisbasicallyadike
againstthespreadofCommunism.Inspiteofthis,thebadeconomicsituationinthecountryandits
unrealizedidealsopenthedoortothespreadofCommunismandhaveallowedittomakeprogressin
twosuccessiveelections,oneforparliamentandtheotherfortheregionalcouncils.Communismhas
notspreadinIndonesiabecauseoftheappealofitsideology,butbecauseithaspromisedthepeople
prosperity. It has promised the allocation of land to the landless farming class. Moreover, the
CommunistPartyofIndonesiahasbeeninthevanguardofthestruggleforthereturnofWestIrianto
theterritoryoftheRepublicofIndonesia.Whenapropereconomicpolicyhasbeguntobenefitvisibly
thedailylivelihoodofthepeople,andwhenWestIrianisincorporatedwithintheIndonesianRepublic,
theIndonesianCommunistPartywillloseitsmainweapons;andbythattimethecurbingeffectof
religioncanhavemadeitsinfluencefelt.
Even though an agreement regarding coexistence and nonintervention would have one result in a
country which is Communist and totalitarian and another in a country which is democratic, it
neverthelesscanreducetensionininternationalpoliticsingeneral.Itcouldalsobeusedtodetermine
whether a Communist state would or would not live up to its obligations. As for the subversive
activitieswhichmightbecarriedonbyaCommunistPartyinthedomesticaffairsofanycountry,the
governmenthasmeansofcheckingthem.ItcanprotesttotheSovietUnion,ifitfeelsthatithasahand
inthoseactivities,oritcandealwiththemdirectly.WhentheCommunistsattempteda coupd'tatin
whathascometobeknownastheMadiunIncidentofSeptember1948,theIndonesianGovernment
showedtheproperfirmnessandtooktheswiftactionwhichademocraticgovernmentshouldtake.Ina
situation based on coexistence and nonintervention, Moscow loses the right to interfere with a
democraticgovernment'sactionagainsttheCommunist movementwithinitsborders.Throughthe
establishmentofsucharelationship,Indonesiahopestobeabletocarryforwardconstructiveactivities
forthedevelopmentofitsresourcesinpeace.
I am fully aware that the independent and active foreign policy practised by the Indonesian
Government,anditsshift,inconsequence,inthedirectionofcoexistenceandnonintervention,isnot
acceptabletotheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates,whichisabletoseetheworldonlyinitsdivision
intotwoblocswhichhavenocontactbetweenthemnamely,whatiscalledthe"freeworld"andthe
"totalitarianCommunistworld."ButIthinktheAmericanpeople,withtheirhighdemocraticideals,
willagreewithmethatotherpeoplescanholddifferentviewsandstillbedemocratic.Ademocracy
whichisintolerantofotherviewpointsisnolongerdemocracybutstraysintototalitarianwaysof
thinking.

Ithinkthatanatmosphereofpeacemightspeedilybesecuredifthetwogreatestworldstates,the
UnitedStatesandSovietRussia,wouldsimplymakeanagreementnottobeatwarwitheachotherfor
thenext25years.Suchanagreementwouldfallshortoftheidealbynotcondemningwarforalltime,
but it would be sufficient to lessen international tensions for the present. In a world filled with
psychologicalenmities,itisdifficulttorealizehopesanddesireswhicharetooidealistic;butapurely
realisticdecisioncanproduceaclimateofpeacewhichinthelongrunmaymakehopesanddesires
whichseemtooidealistictodaybecometherealitiesoftomorrow.
TheUnitedStatesandSovietRussiahavedemonstratedtheirskillandrecordedtheirgreatprogressin
variousfieldsofknowledgeandtechnology; eachinturnovertakestheotherinpresentinganew
invention.Itwouldbegoodiftheywouldcompetewitheachother,andeachtrytoexceltheother,in
creatinganatmosphereofpeaceintheworld.Indonesiawouldbeoneofthebeneficiaries.
Indonesiabelievesthatpeacefulcoexistenceamongstateswithopposedideologieswillintimecometo
pass.Intenserivalrieshaveinthepastlosttheirasperity.Consider,forexample,theterrificconflict
between capitalism and socialism in the last century. Capitalism,guided by laissez faire and free
competition, ruthlesslyoppressed labor; it rejected out of hand labor's demand for social welfare.
Labor,foritspart,thoughtofclassstrugglewithoutwantingconciliation.Gradually,theconflicthas
becomelesssharp;itisstilltherebutisbeingcarriedoninaspiritofconciliation.Agoodmany
socialistidealsformerlyunceremoniouslyrejectedbycapitalistsarenowdefendedbytheminorderto
securesocialpeaceintheirenterprises.Article55oftheCharteroftheUnitedNationslaysdownthe
foundation for bringing into effect social justicean ideal which has its roots in the socialistic
movementofthenineteenthcentury.Democraticgroupingsandsocialphilosophieswhichpreviously
wereatoddsaredrawingclosetoeachother.Thesocialdemocraticmovementwhichoriginatedin
Europeasadestructivetrendnowrevealsitselfasaconstructiveforceaimingtosetupthewelfare
state.
WhereasinthenineteenthcenturytheWestwasthreatenedbysocialism,todaywhataretermedthe
"underdeveloped"countriesareexposedtothethreatofCommunistinfiltration.Protectedfromattack
fromoutsidebyheractiveandindependentpolicybasedonpoliticalcoexistenceandnoninterference,
Indonesiaseekstosecuredomesticstabilityandconstructionsothatherpeoplecanbeprosperous.To
carrythisintoeffectsheneedsforeignhelp,bothmaterialandintellectual.Sheisreadytoacceptthe
loanofoverseascapitalfromwhateverdirectionitmaybeoffered,andshedesirestheassistanceof
technological andeducationalexpertsprovidedonlythat theycomewithout anypolitical orother
strings.Shehopesforaclimateofinternationalcoperationinwhichthisaidwillbepossible.
IncarryingherprojectoutIndonesiafacesnumerousdifficulties.Oneisthatthepolicyoutlinedisnot
easilyacceptabletotheWesternworldwhichistiedtotheconceptofaworlddividedintoblocs.Each
actoftheRepublicofIndonesiawhichcanbeconstruedasturningasmilingfacetowardsSoviet
RussiaandthePeople'sRepublicofChinaisconsideredwrong;IndonesiahasenteredtheCommunist
trap,itissaid,asthoughherleaderswerenotpoliticallymature.Andnotinfrequentlythehelpgivento
IndonesiaismeasuredbyherattitudetowardsthoseCommuniststates.Ithashappenedthatordersfor
goodsvitaltothedailylifeoftheIndonesianpeoplehavenotbeenattendedtoformonths.Perhaps
Westernersconsiderthismerelyabusinesslikeattitude.Butsuchanoccurrencehurtsthefeelingsof
Indonesians,andisputdowntopride.Theyfeelthataneffortisbeingmadetomakethemrealizethat
theycannotexistwithoutforeignaid,especiallyfromtheWesternworld.Theyfeeltheyarebeing
askedtogodownontheirkneesinordertoobtainit.Thisfeelingofbeinghumiliatedautomatically
makesthethinskinnedpopulationreactinawaywhichoccasionallyseemshostile.
ItshouldnotbeforgottenthatIndonesiaisayoungcountry,andthatlikeothernewlyemancipated
nationssheissensitiveandquicktotakeoffense,especiallyinmattersaffectingherhonorandthe
necessitiesfornationalexistence.Thereisnothingwhichanationfeelstobesoderogatoryastobe
told that its politics are dictated by other states, and this is all the more true in the case of the
Indonesianssincetheirfreedomdidnotcomeasagiftmadeinthediscretionofthecolonialrulersbut
astheresultofagreatpoliticalstruggle.Indonesiaadherestoanindependentpolicyinthesensethat
sheisfreefromtheinfluenceofeithertheUnitedStatesblocortheCommunistbloc,whetherthe
influencebeofcapitalorofideology.Sheisanxioustobefriendswithallnations,whatevertheir

ideologyorsystemofgovernment.Shehasherownobjectiveandherownideology,andshedoesnot
wanttoexchangethemforthosebelongingtoothers.
ThesepsychologicalfactorsshouldreceivecarefulattentioninWesterncapitaliststates,especiallythe
United States, because if they are disregarded the relations of these states with the socalled
underdevelopedcountriescannotimproveandpossiblywillgetworse.Becauseitisstiffandterribly
businesslike,thepolicyoftheUnitedStates,evenifbasedonfriendship,doesnotawakenafriendly
responseinthecountrywhichreceivesitshelp.Whenitwantstohelpsomecountry,theUnitedStates
putsforwardtoomanyofitsownviewsandideasandpaystoolittleattentiontothedesiresandideals
of the nation involved. Everything is measured by American axioms, the American view of life.
ConsequentlythehelpgivenbytheUnitedStatesdoesnotproduceeffectiveresults.Careshouldbe
takentoseethatAmericanpolicytowardsthenewlyemergentstatesofAsiaisnotfelttobe"dollar
diplomacy."
ItcanbestatedasafactthatSovietRussiahasamoredynamicpolicyandasaresultisclevererin
captivatingtheheartsofthesocalledunderdevelopedcountries.TheSovietpoliticalsuccessinthe
Middle East, in comparison tothe failure of Western policy, isdue to the fact that the Russians
understandbetterthefeelingsandnationalpsychologyoftheArabsandwhattheyseek.Byapolicyof
strength,byflauntingitswealth,theWestwillnotsucceedingettingnearerthemindsofthepeopleof
theEast.HowevergreatthematerialchangesamongthepeoplesandstatesofAsiamaybe,theymake
anevaluationinethicalterms,andintheireyesthistakesprecedenceovertheeconomicevaluation.
Consideratetreatmentismoreappreciatedthanaprofitablebusinessdeal.
DespitewhatIhavesaid,relationsbetweenIndonesiaandtheUnitedStatesarefundamentallygood
andtheIndonesianpeoplevaluetheAmericanhelpwhichhasbeengiventhem.Thespontaneous
reactionofIndonesianpublicopiniontowardstactlessorunfriendlytreatmentdoesnotchangethe
feelingoffriendshipwhichisthekeynoteoftherelationship.Nevertheless,thereisonevitalmatter
whichcanobtrudeuponthosesentimentsoffriendship,namelytheproblemofWestIrian.Thisisa
nationalclaimbytheRepublicofIndonesiawhichcannotbeignored.
TheUnitedStatesstandofneutralityinthefeudbetweenIndonesiaandtheNetherlandsoverWest
Iriandoes,infact,givesupporttotheDutch.Becauseofit,anditsadoptionbyvariousotherstates,
Indonesia'ssuggestionintheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationsfortheopeningofdiscussions
withtheNetherlandsregardingWestIrianwasneverabletomusterthenecessarytwothirdsvoteand
failedtopass.Ithasbeenrejectedthreetimes,withtheresultthatrelationsbetweenIndonesiaandthe
Netherlandsareextremelybad.
IndonesianscannotunderstandwhytheUnitedStatesshouldassumesuchahalfheartedpostureinthis
matter.TheUnitedStateshasbeenthemovingforceinsettingupNATOandSEATOtohaltthespread
of Communist influence and power in Europe and in Asia. Yet to permit West Irian to continue
indefinitelyasaboneofcontentionbetweenIndonesiaandtheNetherlandsistoaffordCommunisman
opportunity to spread in Indonesia. The claim to West Irian is a national claim backed by every
Indonesian party without exception; but the most demanding voice, apart from that of President
Soekarnohimself,isthatoftheCommunistPartyofIndonesia.Byputtingitselfinthevanguardof
thosedemandingrealizationofthisnationalideal,andbecauseitagitatesaboutWestIrianasanational
claimin line with President Soekarno's standpointand because it backs this up by good
organizationalwork,theCommunistPartyofIndonesiaisabletocapturetheimaginationofanever
growingsectionofthepopulation.
TheWestIrianquestionthusrepresentsatragedy.TheUnitedStates,theNetherlandsandAustralia,all
equallyafraidofthespreadofCommunisminSoutheastAsia,arecarryingoutapolicywhichinfact
strengthensCommunism.For,solongasWestIrianisinDutchhands,thatlongwilltheCommunist
PartyofIndonesiabeabletocarryonaviolentagitation,usingnationalismasanexcuse,tooppose
colonialismandtherebytouchthesoulofthenewlyemancipatedIndonesianpeoplewhosememories
arestillfreshwiththestruggleforfreedomagainstcolonialism.Theanticolonialistfeelingissodeeply
burntintotheheartsoftheIndonesianpeoplethatitisincorporatedinthePreambletotheIndonesian

Constitution.ThefirstsentenceofthePreamblesaysthat"freedomistherightofallpeoplesand
thereforecolonialismshouldbewipedoutfromthefaceofthisearthbecauseitisopposedtohumanity
andjustice."
InIndonesianeyescontinuedDutchoccupationofWestIrianisbotharemnantofcolonialismandan
illegalseizureofaportionofIndonesianterritory.AccordingtotheLinggadjatiAgreementof1947,
thetermIndonesiaembracedtheterritoryofthepreviousNetherlandsEastIndiesinitsentirety.Yet
afterputtingtheirofficialsignaturetotheLinggadjatiAgreement,theDutchworkedtodivorceWest
Irianfromthatterritory.DoubtlessasmallsectionoftheDutchpeoplewantitasareminderofold
colonialglory.The1949RoundTableConferenceatTheHaguereachednoagreementonthequestion
ofWestIrian.InorderthatitshouldnotinterferewiththetransferofsovereigntytoIndonesia,the
solution of the problem was, at the suggestion of the United Nations Commission for Indonesia,
postponedforaperiodofayear;butnegotiationduringthatyearbroughtnosolution.Meanwhilethe
Netherlands unilaterally incorporated West Irian within its territory through its constitution. This
unilateralactionoftheNetherlandsGovernmentdidnotinanywayaffectIndonesia'sclaimbased
upontheLinggadjatiAgreement.DuetotheinabilityoftheUnitedNationstoprovidemachineryfora
solutiontheWestIriandisputecontinues.
FortheNetherlandsthisisatragedy.ItscontinuingoccupationofWestIrianhasinvolveditinan
expenditure of something like 75 million florins a year. It also endangered the position of the
NetherlandsIndonesian Unionnow dissolved, its economic interest in Indonesia and certain
advantageous economic relations with Indonesia. The excuse that the Netherlands has a newly
discoveredmoralobligationtowardsthepeopleoftheterritoryhasnostrongfoundation.Duringthe
daysoftheNetherlandsEastIndiesthepopulationofWestIrianremainedexceedinglybackwardand
evenatthetimeoftheLinggadjatiAgreementnotalkwasheardabouta"moralobligation"toward
them.
ForAustralia,whichsupportstheDutchstand,theproblemofWestIrianisatragedyalsobecauseits
policystrengthenstheverythingitsostronglyopposesCommunisminIndonesia.Thethesisthatthe
NetherlandspositioninWestIrianwillbeashieldforAustraliaagainstaCommunistattackfromthe
northcannotbeprovedbyanyvalidargument.TheexperienceofWorldWarIIpointstothecontrary.
Actually, an Indonesia that was friendly to Australia would be a much more valuable protection.
AlthoughIndonesiaisnowayoungandweakstate,thepotentialenergyawaitingdevelopmentinher
rich natural resources, coupled withher large population, will intime make her strong. Astrong
Indonesiapractisinganactiveandindependentpolicywillnotbeattackedbyanycountryseeking
passageinthedirectionofAustralia.
ThefearthatIndonesia,afterobtainingWestIrian,wouldclaimEastNewGuineaistotallyunfounded.
TheIndonesianpeopledonotfeelanylinksofacommonlotorhistorywiththepeopleofthatarea;
hence their national claim, historical andjuridical innature, doesnot extend that far. Apart from
boosting Communism in Indonesia, Australia's policy with regard to West Irian can result in a
slackeningofthetiesoffriendshipbetweenthetwocountries.Thisistoberegrettedbecausethe
IndonesianshaveagreatappreciationofthemoralsupportgiventhembythepeopleofAustraliainthe
struggleagainstDutchcolonialism.
OnecanunderstandthedifficultiesraisedfortheUnitedStatesbytheIndonesianNetherlandsdispute,
foritisafriendofbothcountries.ButitssocalledneutralattitudecreatesatragedyfortheUnited
Statestoo.ItwantstoeradicateCommunism,butitspolicymerelyhelpsitspread.Inadditionitleaves
Indonesiawithasenseofgrievance.CommunistgainsinIndonesia,besidesalarmingthepeople,have
endangered national unity by sharpening conflicts among different sections of the population. Of
courseWestIrianisnottheonlycausefortheseCommunistgains;otherreasonsarethelowstandard
oflivinginJavaandthelackofsufficientlandtodivideupamongthelandlessfarmlaborers.Onlyin
theouterislandswherethepopulationisscantyistherelandtobehadfortheasking.Butthiscanbe
puttouseonlyinconnectionwithtransmigrationonabigscaleandthisinvolvesexpenseswhichthe
statecannotafford.Thusthequestionhasnotonlysocialbutfinancialaspects.Meanwhiletheall
pervasive influence of the West Irian question upon sentiment and politics has no little effect in

retardingreconstruction.AnyonewhowantstosaythatthisisatragedyforIndonesiaisfreetodoso.
Indeed,tillthequestionofWestIrianissettledIndonesianpoliticswillbemoreirrationalthanrational.
The above description portrays clearly that the problem of colonialism castsitsshadow upon the
friendlyrelationsbetweentheWesternworldandtheAsianAfricannationsingeneralandIndonesiain
particular.ThisdoesnotmeanthatIndonesiawillturnherbackontheWest.Herintellectualand
culturalrelationswiththeWesternworldaretoomanyandtoodeeplyrootedinhistoryforthat.But
becauseIndonesiaisfedupwiththepoliciesoftheWestshewilldeveloprelationswiththeother
nationsoftheEastandwillculturallyenrichherself.Heractiveandindependentforeignpolicy,based
uponthefundamentalnecessitiesofexistence,forbidherfromdrawingclosetooneblocattheexpense
oftheother.Whilesafeguardingthisbasisoffriendshipwithallnations,thenatureofherrelationship
inpracticewillbedeterminedineachcasebywhatisatthattimethereigningnationalinterest.
Lookedatfromafar,Indonesiatodayseemstobeinchaosandconfusion.Manyoftheouterregions
appeartobeinturbulenceandopposedtotheCentralGovernment.Theforeignpressrepresentsthisas
arevoltoftheregions.ButalongsidethisturbulenceconsultationsaregoingonbetweentheCentral
Governmentandregionalcivilandmilitaryauthoritiesonwaystoovercomethenationaldifficulties.It
ishardforoutsiderstounderstandwhatishappening.Howeverparadoxicalitmaysound,noneofthe
dissidentsintendtobringabout fissuringandseparatism.Theyaim tostrengthentheunityofthe
people based upontheproclamationofindependenceofAugust 17,1945,and toensure astrong
governmentblessedwithauthorityandsupremeoveralltheregions.Further,alltheincidentsand
turbulencewhichhaveoccurredinIndonesia,beginningwithPresidentSoekarno'sbreathinglifeinto
hisNationalCouncilandcontinuingwiththemilitary'sseizureofauthorityfromcivilhandsinthe
outerregions,areareactionandprotestagainstawrongturningtakenbyIndonesiandemocracyinthe
directionofpartyoligarchy,anarchyandcorruption.Formallyandjuridicallyallthesestepsarewrong,
eventhoughtheyaremeanttospeedupreconstructionandtorevitalizedemocracywhich,asthe
Indonesianpeopleunderstandit,isnotpoliticalonlybutalsoeconomicandsocial.
TheconflictsinIndonesiaarefrightfultobehold,butiftheyarecarefullyexaminedtheyarenotonthe
levelofthecivilwarwhichtheUnitedStatesexperiencedafterfreeingitselffromBritishcontrol.If
Indonesiacangetoverthistemporaryconfusionshewillcarryaheadspeedilyherconstructivework
andobtainmoretimeinwhichtostrengthenherbondsoffriendshipwithallnations,thoseofthe
Westernworldnotexcepted.
[i]

PeopleintheWestoftentermtheCommunistblocthe"Easternbloc,"atermwhichreallyisnotapt
becausemanyAsiancountriesareaccustomedtocallingthemselvesEasternnations.