Indonesia in 1964: Toward a Peoples Democracy

摘要

President Sukarno of Indonesia is said to be heading a government that is being transformed slowly but steadily into a political system shaped by the Communist Party of Indonesia. The economic situation is regarded as clearly playing into the hands of the Communists. By midNovember 1964 money in circulation exceeded Rp. 500 billion, twice the volume present on Dec 31, 1963. At the end of the year, the black market rate quoted in Djakarta was Rp. 9000 as against an official rate of Rp. 45 for $1.00. The government has abandoned efforts to formulate a budget for 1965 since it is helpless against inflationary pressures. Indonesia, it is claimed, will probably continue to harass Malayasia militarily and politically while trying to avoid full-fledged war with Great Britain. Her relations with the US will probably continue to deteriorate. She will talk in terms of a PekingHanoi-Pyongyang-PhnonPenh-Djakarta axis while temporarily maintaining a posture that would not alienate the USSR, her major source of military supplies. (This article was prepared for issuance within the 'Asian Survey,' February 1965)