On Trial

As he mounted the speaker's rostrum in Djakarta's smoke-filled House of Parliament last week, goateed Ali Sastroamidjojo looked more like a prisoner entering the dock than a Prime Minister about to make a policy statement. For once, appearances were not deceptive. Between his failure to put an end to military revolts in Sumatra and the recent withdrawal of the powerful Moslem Masjumi Party from his Cabinet, Premier Ali was indeed a man on trial.

Recognizing that anyone who wants to govern Indonesia must have the support of the army, Ali was at last prepared to pay well for that support. In the six weeks since the revolts began, Ali's government has promoted more than 100 army officers, including many in rebellious Sumatra. Last week, in yet another conciliatory gesture, the Premier dispatched Army Chief of Staff Nasution to Sumatra. Nasution's prime task: to coax Colonel Maludin Simbolon, most popular of the Sumatra rebels, out of his jungle hideout and "reconcile" him to the government. _

Whether or not Nasution succeeds in bringing the rebels around, Ali seemed confident that he could keep his government in office. He probably could, so long as he continued to have the backing of exuberant President Sukarno, the idol of Indonesia's masses. With all the recent defections from his coalition, however, Ali will probably need the parliamentary support of the Communist Party, and will almost certainly soon include Communist ministers in his Cabinet--something Sukarno has long desired.

Ever since his visits to Moscow and Peking last fall, Sukarno has been touting the idea of "guided democracy." Just what "guided democracy" is, Sukarno has never made entirely clear. He provided a broad clue fortnight ago, however, when he announced that he was planning to appoint a presidential advisory council which, according to palace aides, would have final say over all acts of Parliament and, presumably, the Cabinet. "In no way," smiled Sukarno, "will this be a dictatorship."

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