Time of the Assassins

For nearly a year the fires of resentment against Indonesia's highhanded President Sukarno have smoldered quietly. Deserted by more and more of his once faithful political and military followers, Sukarno has clung adamantly to his plans for bringing "guided democracy" to Indonesia. Last week, with his supporters limited to a few old hangers-on and Indonesia's increasingly powerful Communist Party, the embers of resentment burst into flame.

Sukarno had motored out to Djakarta's upper-crust Tjikini elementary school, where three of his six children are students, to participate in the school's anniversary ceremonies. He made a brief speech, nibbled refreshments and tried his hand at the school shooting gallery. As he left the building and headed for his black Chrysler limousine, a pistol shot rang out. Then five hand grenades sizzled through the air and exploded almost at the President's feet. At the sound of the pistol shot an adjutant leaped to protect Sukarno's body with his own. Somehow, Sukarno escaped injury. But the grenades killed ten women, children and policemen, wounded 167 others. They also made a sieve of the President's Chrysler.

Apparently fearful that the assassination may have been timed to coincide with a nationwide outbreak, Sukarno went on the radio almost immediately to announce his survival. "This is my voice, the voice of Sukarno," he said. "I want to express my gratitude to God Almighty that I have been saved from assassination. I urge calm and intensified national security. Let us stick together in our grief. May God protect us all." This done, Sukarno set out to discover who among his myriad enemies had tried to kill him.

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