"Think It Over"

"There is no denial that we are firm in upholding democracy," said Indonesia's President Sukarno last week, "but the question remains: Is democracy as practiced in our country already perfect and suitable to our needs? Think it over."

In the first week of Indonesia's corruption-ridden and strife-torn eighth year of independence, there was much food for thought. The huge island of Sumatra (whose oil and rubber provide two-thirds of Indonesia's export revenue) was in open revolt against the government. Sumatrans complain that the national government, sitting in the Java capital of Djakarta, is too Java-centered.* Last week in North Sumatra, three of four government regiments were reportedly rallying to the support of Rebel Leader Colonel Maludin Simbolon, once the rising star of the Indonesian army, who is in hiding in the hills of Tapanuli with some 200 followers.

Sumatrans would like to bring back to power Mohammed Hatta, 54, a widely respected Sumatran, who along with President Sukarno led the fight for Indonesia's independence from the Dutch. Distressed at the weakness of Premier Ali Sastroamidjojo's government, which flirts with Communism and tolerates corruption, Hatta resigned last month as Vice President of the country.

Premier Ali, at the head of a nondescript coalition government, stays tenuously in power only because of Sukarno's sufferance. The most powerful Moslem party in Ali's coalition called for his resignation, but the specter of open army revolt in Sumatra finally held a cabinet together: it might be disastrous to the young nation to let an army mutiny bring down a government.

Sukarno may yet be driven to proclaiming the "guided" democracy he has recently talked about, and to taking over the government in his own right. But many Indonesians think that no real solution can be made until Sukarno and Hatta get back together. Mutual friends would like to reunite them, but there are delicacies to be observed. "What do you want me to do?" asked Sukarno. "Hatta didn't even bid me goodbye when he resigned." Says Hatta: "How can I go to the palace without being invited?"

* One reason: 52 million of Indonesia's 80 millions live on Java.

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