Schoolchildren Storm Subandrio’s Office

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 13

Schoolchildren Storm Subandrio’s Office

(X ZP A. Reuter —Copyright) DJAKARTA, March 8 Thousands of schoolchildren ran amuck in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry today. The troops used tear gas and six children were hurt by the fumes and taken to a nearby hospital. The pupils, demonstrating and demanding dismissal of the foreign minister, Dr. Subandrio, stormed the Foreign Ministry building, occupied it and then reduced it to shambles.

Walls were completely defaced with slogans and caricatures insulting the Foreign Minister. A group of children broke open the doors of the Foreign Minister’s office and shouted "Get Out Subandrio” but he was not there. Other groups of pupils spilled into corridors of the nearby buildings where the office of the Deputy Minister and heads of departments are located.

The grounds of the Ministry were strewn with official cars with their tyres punctured. The children, estimated at 3000 were still demonstrating in the building three hours after they stormed it. Antara also reported that scientists had formed the “Indonesian Scientists’ Action Command” in support of the three demands of the outlawed student group, which are to reshape the Cabinet, ban the Communist Party and lower commodity prices. In a statement the command said it was free from political affiliations.

The statement expressed surprise at the Government’s decision to close the University of Indonesia and demanded it be reopened. The official Indonesian news agency, Antara, said other groups of students tried to storm the secretariat of’ the extreme Left-wing Indonesian Nationalist Student’s Movement. Warning Shots Troops dispersed them by firing several warning shots into the air. High school pupils have occupied the Basic Education Ministry building for the last four days in demonstrations against the new Minister for Basic Education and Culture, Mr Sumardjo.. The pupils took up protests against the inclusion of allegedly pro-Communist ministers in the Cabinet after President Sukarno banned the I University Student Action ; Command last week. The anti-Communist Pantjasila Front, composed of seven major political parties and 130 mass organisations, has called on President Sukarno to review his decision which dissolved the students’ group. Review Wanted In a public statement, the Pantjasila Front said it had asked the President to review his decision for the sake of justice, truth and national progressive revolutionary unity as well as the “peace of mind of the suffering people.” The Pantjasila Front is affiliated to another front which has a membership which includes armed forces. It is called the “Action F-ont for Crushing Gestapo P.K.1.” (the Communist coup elements). The Pintjasila Front called for the strengthening of the students’ organisation and its I fighting methods.

President Sukarno has expressed dissatisfaction about the implementation of his decree banning the students’ group, the Army Minister, Lieutenant-General. Suharto, said last night. The general gave the statement after a three-hour meeting of the “Crush Malaysia Command” presided over by President Sukarno at the palace. General Suharto said the President had ordered all regional military commanders to enforce the decree more effectively.