Evening star., 1962-05-28
West New Guinea

WeSr NeW SuIned
Your May % editorial on
the West New Guinea dis
pute has again indicated to
me your unfairness in ap-
preaching the problem. There
is on your part either an ig-
norance Of the facts or an
unwillingness to see the facts
in their true proportion.
An Associated Press news
item, carried in the same edi-
ton as the editorial, said
that "the Indonesians were
described as receptive (to-
ward the Bunker Plan) and
the Dutch as hesitant."
The West New Guinea dis
pute cannot be viewed cor
rectly except in the context
of the struggle Of anti-co-
lonial forces against colonial
forces. 1t must be seen in the
light Of the behavior Of the
Dutch during the three and a
half century colonial period:
their failure to anticipate the
change Of thinking after
World War II, their attempt
to regain control in Indonesia
by military force in 1947 and
1948. their continuation of
the divide and rule" policy
under various guiSes, their re-
peated and varied provoca-
tions Of Indonesia, their mill
tary build-up in West Irian,
and above all, their failure to
reconcile themselves with the
fact that they were forced to
leave Indonesia because of
their arrogant refusal to ac-
cept the current of history
and the desire of the Indon-
esians to regain freedom.
Seen against this back
ground, the Dutch clinical.
cultural and geographical
arguments to retain their po-
sition in West Irian crumble.
Well aware of this, the Dutch
government has resorted to q
misuse Of the principle of
self-determination, q princi-
pie laudable in itself but abb
surd when applied in this
situation.
What the Dutch are aim
ing for is an artificial separa-
ton Of West Irian from In
donesia, q pure application of
the divide and rule" policy.
They are attempting to play
the Papuans against the In
donesians In order to satisfy
a handful Of people in the
Dutch government.
The Netherlands had re-
peatedly ignored Indonesia's 8
attempts since 1850 to settle
this issue peacefully, and has
underestimated Indonesia's &
ability to put a final end to
Dutch colonialism in Indone-
sia. Now that the Indonesian
people, including the people
Of West Irian itself, have
demonstrated the sincerity OF
their attempt to liberate the
territory, Dutch Premier Jan
de Quay has lamented that
Indonesia has ignored his
peaceful and constructive
approach" toward the Bunker
proposals.
The truth is that Indonesis
made known its acceptance
Of the Bunker Plan within
three days after it was pro-
posed as q basis for settling
the dispute. The Dutch, on
the other hand. kept silent
for over q month, while they
continued to reinforce their
military position in West
1rian. Only after being prod
ded by the United States did
they come out with q vague
reaction, not indicating that
they will accept the plan, but
only that they will discuss
the plan. You will note that
they are not willing to discuss
settlement Of the issue, as
the Bunker Plan proposes,
but only to discuss the plan.
This type of political man
euver by the Dutch is not new
to us. For example. they at
tempted to dress up" the
Linggardjati Agreem e n t,
which should have led to
recognition of Indonesia's in
dependence in 1947, even
after the pact was signed. In
stead Of carrying out the
agreement, the Dutch kept
proposing new terms in de-
fiance Of the signed agree
ment. a maneuver which cul-
minated in the military at
tack Of July Il, 1e47. This
shall not happen again.
Sjamsoe SoegitO
First Secretary of
Press and Public Relations,
EmbasSv of Indonesia