EAST ASIA BIWEEKLY REVIEW

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001393502
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2009
• Case Number: F-2006-00081
• Publication Date: January 10, 1978

Foreign
East Asia
Biweekly Review
10 January 1978
4 s. ,5 i~ /
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE DATE:
09-Oct-2009
RP EARR 78-002
10 January 1978
 Indonesia: Present State of Dissidence
President Suharto's New Year's address reflected the
significant degree of attention his government has given
to domestic dissent. Suharto referred to recent student
demonstrations on Java as a threat to national stability,
although persistent guerrilla movements outside of Java
undoubtedly concern him also. The President stated that
last month's release of 10,000 political detainees would
not threaten the nation's security, however, and pledged
to continue the scheduled release or trial of the remain-
ing detainees who now number approximately 21,000.
Suharto's generally moderate tone toward opposition to
his regime and the emphasis on the government's commit-
ment to equitable distribution of development benefits
are probably designed to quiet his critics pending his
expected reelection this March.
Suharto and his family have been the subject of much
criticism. The most recent accusation which surfaced ;.n
the highly publicized Sawito political trial alleged that
Mrs. Suharto was involved in smuggling activities.
Suharto's response to these and other attacks has begin
relatively restrained, despite the advice of some military
officials that he adopt tougher measures. Has government
has neither closed to the public nor inhibited the press
from reporting on the Sawito trial; it has arrested
students, but released them quickly; and although it has
harassed notable critics such as retired General Nasution
and former Vice President Hatta, it has never detained
them. This moderation probably stems from Suharto's
belief that harsh measures would only stiffen opposition
at home and diminish the goverment's recent gains in its
human rights record abroad, both of which Suharto wants
to prevent as he prepares for his reelection.
The President nonetheless professed concern in his
speech that the student protests in Jakarta, Bandung, and
Jogjakarta could damage Indonesia's continued political
and social development. Suharto said that the military's
warning of 15 December, in which it promised to take. firm
10 January 1978
 action against elements undermining the authority of
national leadership, was issued to prevent heightened
tension in the future. This warning, and a later ad-
monition to students to refrain from taking to the streets,
appears to have met with at least temporary success.
Students have lately confined their activities to quiet
discussions of issues on campus and reasonably polite
meetings with government officials. However, the recent
detention of a well-known university professor for crit-
icism of the government could spark fresh outbreaks of
student demonstrations.
Suharto has had a more difficult time subduing dis-
sidence outside of Java. In East Timor, the Revolutionary
Movement for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) continues
to mount effective resistance against the better equipped
and more numerous Indonesians. In a very candid state-
ment to the US Ambassador, the General responsible for
the Timor operations conceded that the Army lacks adequate
manpower, supplies, and expertise to root out a guerrilla
force now estimated at about 600. Nonetheless, Suharto's
extension of amnesty to those who will side with the
government--an appeal aimed more at villagers probably
aiding FRFTILTN than he guerrillas themselves--and in-
creased food and clothing supplies to the villagers will
probably hamper operations of FRETILIN.
In North Sumatra, members of the fanatic Muslim
National Liberation Front for Aceh (NFLA) shot two
Americans at the US-owned Mobil gas site last November
and has promised to continue attacking foreigners employed
by overseas corporations. The NFLA's actions are ultimately
aimed at the Javanese, w;io are resented for exploiting
Sumatra's wealth in natural resources for Java's benefit.
By frightening off foreign investment, the NLFA hopes tc
deprive the Suharto government of important development
funds. Although Jakarta has increased security forces
there, while being careful not to send too many Javanese
soldiers, the still limited forces and the forested
terrain work against complete suppression of NLFA ter-
rorism.
In Irian Jaya, the Organization for Papuan Indepen-
dence (OPM) continues to harass Indonesian soldiers and
cultivate latent anti-Indonesian sentiment among villagers.
The OPM successfully sabotaged the US-owned Freeport
10 January 1978
10
 M
Minerals copper mine last summer, and has threatened kid-
napings and hijackings. Suharto's success in neutralizing
the OPM will depend on the government's ability to gain
the support of village tribes and maintain friendly re-
lations with Papua New Guinea in order to limit the OPM's
use of that country as a sanctuary.
Suharto's assertion that the overall security situ-
ation is under control and his apparently genuine desire
to ease the detainee problem suggests that the schedule
for future releases might be accelerated. He undoubtedly
hopes that such a move would dampen criticism at home
and enhance Indonesia's human rights record abroad, al-
though skepticism exists among many Indonesian officials
disappointed over the lack of praise the Western press
has accorded the government for the December release.
If security worsens, and this is possible given the
volatility of the students and the militancy of devout
Muslims angered over the government's attempt to recog-
nize mysticism as an official religion, then Suharto
could delay further releases.
10 January 1978
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