AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION REPORT ON CONFRONTATION WITH INDONESIA, 1964

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: MGH 4208).

Synopsis

Current affairs report examines Britain's efforts to contain Indonesian guerrilla activity in Borneo and Sarawak (Malaysia), where 1st Battalion 7th Gurkhas are seen on patrol and are interviewed, and raises the possibility of direct Australian military involvement if Confrontation spreads to Papua and New Guinea.

Strategic significance of island of Borneo in South-East Asia. Gurkhas are lowered by rope from Wessex helicopter into dense jungle to search for handful of guerrillas who infiltrate Sarawak and Borneo from Indonesian part of island; rivers used by Iban and Dayak tribes-people are also patrolled by British soldiers. Captain Richard Holworthy, speaking from Sibu, describes a typical patrol and highlights difficulties over film: patrol by police longboat, inadequate maps, making water potable. Major Dennis O'Leary MBE speaks. At Sarikei on Rajang River Colonel John Hewers praises his Gurkha troops and describes Confrontation as a "multiracial war." Major-General Walter C Walker, Director of Operations, asserts that Indonesians could not take over, even though British have three borders and air and sea to patrol; British have also to face internal threat posed by Fifth Columnists in guise of Chinese in Kuching and Indonesian immigrant workers, and struggle against this very great danger may last as long as similar emergencies in Malaya, Cyprus and Kenya. Failure of recent Kalimantan raid (dead Indonesians, starving survivors off helicopter, captured Indonesian Marine commandos) and discovery of arms cache of Russian and American weapons suggest British military strategy is effective. Dayaks and Ibans support British and supply information but no fighting capacity. Sabah (formerly North Borneo), where 20,000 Indonesians worked in timber yards and timber port of Tawau is now idle, remains vulnerable, as does Brunei, which survived revolt in 1963 by Sheikh Azahari. Main threat in Sarawak is from Chinese Communists; Chief Minister Suplen Ninket ??? calls Sukarno "a dictator who wishes to rule S E Asia". Malaysia's Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak asserts that Malaysia can survive until the end of the century; Colonel B A MacDonald, commanding 1st Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment presently training in Malaysia, states his men are ready to intervene in Borneo. Reporter concludes that if Confrontation extends to Papua and New Guinea, Australia would become directly involved, and if Borneo falls to Indonesia, then future of Malaysia is in doubt.

 

Titles

  • AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION REPORT ON CONFRONTATION WITH INDONESIA, 1964 (Other)
Series Title:
7 DAYS
 

Technical Data

Year:
1964
Running Time:
27 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
16mm
Colour:
B & W
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
937 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Australia
director
MacKnight, Alan
producer
Pringle, John
Production company
ATN 7, Sydney
reporter
Croll, Richard
reporter
Hunter, Mayo
 

Countries