sympathetic the press has not supported openly the independent Bangladesh movement. This may be attributed to the Government's policy of non-interference and the popular feeling that it would be tragedy if the greatest Moslem state is split into two. The press has however pressed the view that the military regime should seek a political solution to the problem. A few papers like the “Indonesian Observer” and the DJAKARTA TIMES have warned the consequences of continuing the repressive policy in East Pakistan.
One trend in the press is to project India's point of view more permanently. Releases of the Pakistan information Service are generally not earned by the press. The Pakistan Embassy and the local Pakistani community have to spend substantial amounts in inducing the papers (only a few) to get publish their articles or letters. The Indonesian Observer refused to publish an Article by Aziz Beg who visited Djakarta about a month back. The press is not however anti-Pakistani, but its reaction is definitely unfavorable to the policy of the military regime and its attitude sympathetic to the oppressed people of Bangladesh.
3. By and large, the people of Indonesia are convinced that the Most Pakistani troops are guilty of committing genocide in East Pakistan. Having the experience of the great tragedy of 1965, they shudder at the news of any massacre. The people now know that East Pakistan has always been exploited by West Pakistan. But many of them are not aware of the peculiarities of this absurd state and the reasons for disparities between the two parts. The name of Islamic Republic also creates confusion. They often think that the problem between East and West Pakistan is similar to that as exists between Sumatra and Java. But if explained, they can understand the absurdity of Pakistan and the reality of independent Bangladesh. In private discussion, knowledge enable people appreciate and support independence movement of the Bengalis. But they are shy to say anything in public because of the military dominated government's policy to keep quite. However, two Moslem leaders, Dr. Roem and Dr. Abu Hanifah, who attended the Bangladesh conference in New Delhi showed courage to speak and write about the crisis and the disparities between the two wings of Pakistan. It however appears that the view-point of Dr. Roem is more acceptable to the Indonesian people than that or Dr. Abu Hanifah, as the former has taken care to hint at a solution within the framework of Pakistan.
4. The Indonesian government was initially very vocal in supporting Pakistan's stand that the East Pakistan crisis was Pakistan's internal affair. Adam Malik declared this a number of times. The Government reportedly put pressure on the press not to publish anything that might be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. The authorities took into custody some student leaders who demonstrated in front (If the Pakistan Embassy against the killing in East Pakistan. The Indonesian government is also believed to have put forward certain advices to the Pakistan Government as to how to tackle the East Pakistan problem. But the attitude of the government is gradually changing, through not in favor of Bangladesh, against the policy of the Generals in Pakistan. It shows indifference or coldness to unreasonable requests from the Pakistan Government/Embassy. Despite a lot of lobbying, the Pakistan Embassy failed to step Jai Prakash Narayan's visit to Djakarta, to stop Dr. Roem and Dr. Abu Hanifah to attend the Bangladesh conference in New Delhi to stop these scholars to speak or write about
