Weight Thrower

Gathered in noisy convention amidst the moldering elegance of a onetime Dutch social club, the members of Indonesia's ruling Nationalist Party cheered a handsome man in a black fez and specially designed presidential uniform, who bounced to the rostrum. He was angry.

"We may have been defeated by the United Nations," cried Indonesia's President Soekarno, "but we do not have to beg from them. If we are to get Irian,* we must have power, power, power and more power." More significant than anything Soekarno had to say to the Nationalists last week was the eloquent fact of his presence. It was the first time in Indonesia's five years as a republic that the President has appeared at any party convention. He has always told Indonesians wherever he went: "Brothers, I am above such things as party politics. I am your constitutional President. I am of you and with you." Now he is publicly supporting the leftist, trouble-loaded government of his friend, Premier Ali Sastroamidjojo.

Soekarno's friends say that he was alarmed by the narrowness of Sastroa-midjojo's majority on a parliamentary vote of confidence a fortnight ago (TIME, Dec. 27). Though a Moslem himself, Soekarno also fears that the opposition Masjumi (Moslem) Party, which is the largest political party in the predominantly (90%) Moslem republic, would make Indonesia a theocratic state if it came to power. Others, less charitable, find an explanation for Soekarno's behavior in his ambition to become the Nehru of Indonesia. During a recent visit to the island of Bali with Soekarno, Nehru's sister, Madame Pandit, said to him: "You know, I think you'd be very successful as a dictator." Soekarno just laughed.

But whatever the explanation, the most powerful and most popular man in Indonesia is now openly and energetically siding with the Communist-supported Nationalist Party.

* Indonesia's name for Dutch New Guinea, which the Indonesians want to grab.

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