Roundup Time

For a government that had to fight down a Communist insurrection only three years ago, Indonesia seemed unduly complacent about the Reds in its midst, growing strong again. But the inexperienced Indonesians had their eye too much on their late masters, the Dutch, to suspect the greater, and closer, danger.

One of the leading agitators of the 1948 Communist revolt was an unsavory little Chinese gambler named Wang Jen-shu, then 39, author of a pamphlet titled "How to Overthrow the Present Government and Achieve a Communist State." Last year, Wang came back to Indonesia as Red Chinese ambassador. He set about importing professional organizers (as part of his embassy staff), reviving the native Communist Party, building up what neighboring governments regard as Communist headquarters for Southeast Asia. ,

What finally woke up the trusting Indonesians was a raid in force one night early this month on police stations in Tanjon Priok, Jakarta's vital port area. It was carried out by 100 terrorists, carrying red flags and wearing hammer & sickle armbands incongruously decorated with the Picasso "dove of peace." They were after arms. After an all-night fight, they were finally beaten back.

Alarmed at last, police began a sweep of Communist areas, arrested more than1,000 suspects throughout the country. Last week, roundups reached the capital--and the top. In the early morning hours, police and MPs filtered along Jakarta's dusty, canal-lined streets, calling at the homes of Red-dominated Labor Ministry officials, leftist Chinese newspapermen, and 15 left-wing members of Parliament. Soldiers surrounded Parliament, waiting for a 16th legislator--who claimed immunity to arrest but was grabbed as he left the building at noon. Later, Dr. Sakirman, left-wing faction leader, called on President Soekarno to protest the "violation of democratic and human rights," was arrested himself.

At week's end, Indonesia also took steps to prevent Ambassador Wang's Red seminary from growing any larger. On grounds that the Chinese "willfully ignored" diplomatic courtesy--by establishing a Jakarta consulate general without permission, running in two military attaches without warning, and sending in 16 "diplomatic" personnel without prior notice--the Indonesians refused to let Wang's 16 reinforcements get off the boat.

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