The Correspondent, April 1976 by The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

April 1976

Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

;+'e,'

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ublished monthly as an organ of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong, Offices at l5th Floor, Sutherland House, 3 Chater

President

Keith Kay

Road, Hong Kong.

First Vice hesident

5-231734

Ér?4.üí¿Ër4¡#åÉ

Bert Okuley P. Viswa Nathan

Hong Kong, lsth Floor, Sutherland House, 3 Chater

Treasurer

Our Cover:

Secretøry

Road, Hong Kong. Adve¡-

Hugh Van Es

Edward K. Wu

remembers

shooting this picture

jubilant communist

the

victory

celebration after the fall of North Vietnant president Ton Duc Thang and Viet Cong

Editor

Tel: 5-233003.

Cables: CORCLUB HONG KONG. Address all cor¡espondence to: Editor, Foreign Correspondents' Club of

Second Vice President

Gail Johnson

and

tising: Nida Cranbourne, First Floor, 30 Ice House St., Hong Kong. Tel: 5-248482

Saigon.

Harold Ellithorpe

leader Ngtyen

Photographer

Huu Tho threw

flowers to Saigon crowds - ønd the one in the air here conked

Hugh Van Es

Vsn Es on the head. Flower

Advertising

power.

Nida Cranbourne

ot ¡O

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c 6

It was iust a year ago... For hundreds of foreign correspondents "the war" meant the 15year-long struggle between the com-

the so-called "free world forces" in Indo China from munists and

1960 until just a year ago.

For the savaged nations of North and South Vietnam, Cambodia and I¿os, the conflict was a cruel ordeal. Adjustments to peace have been no less fraught with agony. Tranquility - true peace - is still mo¡e a hope than a rcalíty. The wounds of war cut ceep and heal painfully slow. For journalists the war often seemed indescribable in its tragedy,

inexplicable in its brutality, senseless in its continuation. It was a story lived with night and day, all absorbing in its intensity. Some 50 journalists laid down their lives pursuing its thin threads of truth and unnumbered newsmen - perhaps

400

were wounded,

some

numerous times.

For a year now correspondents in Asia have tried to come to terms

with that awesome experience, to place it in perspective. Some, like soldiers of forgotten wars, will relive

over and over for the reníain-

The Conespondent,

Apríl I 976

Paul Vogle

der of their lives. Others will tum away, spurning any memory in an effort to fìnd new accomodations

and new perspectives stories

distant

peace and quasi-peace. On the anniversary of the war's end, it is fitting that a number of awards have been pfesented to a few of those hundreds, men whose

outstanding brilliance during the final days of conflict and dogged determination to see the story to the tnish, stand above ordinary ranks of correspondents.

Martin Woollacott, now Hong Kong - based for The Guardian, has been named "International Reporter of the Year" by the International Press Council in London. The Council said:

"He gains the award for daily filing of a consistently high level and for his thoughtful and original approach to each situation."

Woollacott is still covering the story. His perceptive reports on

events in Vietnam and Cambodia continue to provide glimpses of the tragedy despite the official clamps placed on news out of Indo-china.

Woollacott piece

is "must"

¡c

ï'

€o

F I

reading for other regional correspondents, for he usually leads the way, opening up new areas of needed probing and thoughtful analysis.

For many years he had to commute from London to cover the war, but The Guardian decided 18 months ago to post him in Hong Kong, closer to the scene of his work. Jon Swain, the young chronicler

of the fall of Phnom Penh and its aftermath, was named by the International Council as "Journalist of the Year" for that courageous work. Reporting for The SundaY Times, he shares with the New York Times' Sydney Schanberg the fìnal by-lines ofPhnom Penh. Jon now works out

of Bangkok. Jack Cahill of The Toronto Star was covering the evacuation of Saigon when he was shoved aboard a crowded U.S. Navy ship loaded with 7,000 refugees. His perceptive

account of that voyage (see box) won him a Canadian National Newspaper Award and $1000. Two veteran Vietnam hands remained behind in Saigon to cover the story of the takeover by communist forces and the establishment 3

of a new regime.

Paul Vogle and Alan Dawson of United Press International have been given Headliner Awards for their coverage. Vogle had been in Vietnam since 1955 and spoke fluent Vietnamese. He taught at Hue University, once edited two of Saigon's daily newspapers, and joined UPI in the last years of the war. His knowledge and insight were invaluable in presenting the rapid sequence of events to readers abroad. Dawson, married to a Vietnamese wife and having twin sons, covered the war from the mid1960's for UPI, rising to become Saigon bureau chief by the time of the takeover. His hard-hitting news digging won him plaudits from both sides ofthe conflict. After leaving Vietnam last sum-

mer, both men were assigned to UPI's Bangkok bureau where they continue to cover the story oflndo-

china and its wider

postwar

parameters. These are but the latest in a long

list of honours piled upon journa-

lists of that dreary,

dreadful

conflict.

In retrospect there perhaps were That very inaccessibility and others who should have been hiddenness should have spurred

honoured. Of course, there were ratherthanbluntedcoverage. hundreds of ordinary journalists In no previous war was the who plugged away at their jobs awesome power of the press so without fanfare and little reward, evident. That power indeed, may, and a few who failed to do their have proved decisive in the Ameriprofession

credit.

But the real test of the task accomplished was whether, in the

the time to make f,rnal assessments. Minds must settle into the perspectives of time for that.

newsmen became more participants in a political quandry than objective observers. Perhaps, given the lack of responsiveness of governments, this was inevitable. But journalists need

I-JOUSC

listic history. The new medium of television fully complemented wires and newspaper repottage, magazine

Jòr

l;urtti,sltittgs t

analysis, radio and

photo'

One might quibble about the general journalistic level of understanding of military strategies and tactical necessities. Few news reports will go into military his-

Home Of fice

valid commentaries. Politically, correspondents were perhaps in advance of the participants, comprehending more clearlY than soldiers and governments the to¡ies

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conflict.

tragedy

of psychology and social on the course of the

In hindsight, more effort should

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it reached the levels of governmental decision. At times, before

told the truth as near as was humanely possible. It is not Yet

CLAIIIDCC Stt¡tpliars

Unfortunately its powet influenced the general populace long

judgment of man and history, they

At this juncture, all that can be done is to record interim judgments. On the fìghting itself the coverage was unparalleled in journa'

LrD

caa pullout.

have been made

Vietnamese and

Viet Cong

penetrate the

communist side. Because it was closed and inaccessible, the North were

often neglected in the news balance.

to examine whether they could have more accurately targeted and brought some more immediate response

from

decision-makers

rather than having ultimately only an appeal in the tyranny of the streets,

Greate¡ attention should probably have been paid to the tasks

of writing reports within contexts of wider truths. Too many of the hundreds

reports

from weariness and repe-

thousands

news

sheer incapacity - failed to be more than horriffying tition or

glimpses, devoid of frame.

The long war revealed

manY

weaknesses of the press. It also showed vital strengths which a free

press possesses inherentlY. It revealed that courage, effort and skill still mark many who follow the craft of journalism. Thanks to those hundreds, living and dead, who reported the war, the free world knew the issues and the stakes involved.

g ,talP-

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The art of Hong Kong has been in the commr¡nication bueines for over a hundred years. The art of precise cornmunication is a Chinese t¡adition. Tirda¡the calligraplrer in his market stall uorks along.side modern buciness that communicates with the ¡est of the norld through Cable and Wireless. Multi-national companies use telephone, telegraph, telex, leased circuir and television to keep in contact with their international offices. The most distant off ice is now only a telephone number a\{'ay. Efficient communication has made Hong Kong one of the world's largest business centres and nucleus of the East. The Cable and Wirëless Group of Companies know efficient communication means efficient business, that's what Cable and Wireless is all about.

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And bollixed is the current state

of the Club's annual nomination

procedures to select a new president for the coming year. However,

assured straightened

that it will all be out at an Ext¡aor-

dinary General Meeting scheduled after our editorial deadline. The problem arose when it was discovered that Mr. Derek Round

opponent, Mr. Bert Okuley would have won without contest and many members would have been deprived of a valid vote, having already cast their ballots.

Ii on the other hand, Mr. Round's name were to be kept on the ballot - with he being given the

professional conwill occupy him rather fully this coming year, to decline nomination as a candidate for president. As many members had already

was forced

siderations which

their ballots on

completed

the

assumption he was a candidate, the Board of Governo¡s voted to

Keith Kay: Speak no evil!

call an

Let's Do It AII 0ver Bollixed. An alternative ballocks which is the plural

Extraordinary General

Meeting to resolve the issue.

of of

ballock which is a fìne English word meaning testis from which we get

some very descriptive idiomatic derviations these days.

There was considerable debate within the Board and its Nomination Committee as to the proper procedure in such an unprecedented dilemma.

If Mr. Round's nomination had been declared void, then his

Liz Eckersley: In the record!

WhichJfiee

inA¡iado An¡

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option of declining to accept election after the ballots were counted - it is possible that the first vice-president winrrer would have become president by a legal

decide the issues. As of this writing, this is the stance of affairs. Bollixed.

fwist, ipso facto.

membership of our fraternal organi-

fairness to all, the Board decided to hold a special meeting to

Al1 of which makes for some fancy politicking. (Ah, yes, thele are those among the fastidious

zation who may legitimately be termed "politicians." Not that such

1976 CLUB CANDIDATES

(l) Okuley*

President

Be¡t W.

First Vice-president

United Press International

(l)

Worth* Ken Gott* Jack

NBC News Business International

Second Vice-president

(l)

Martin Bishop Keith Jackson

Frank Beatty: llhy don't we?

ICAC South China Morning Post

Correspondent Governors (7) Jack Worth*

structure.)

How this politicking will now evolve is completely unfathomable to the Editor of The Correspondent. Somehow we shall muddle through. The list of candidates approved at the regular Nomination Meeting

NBC News Reader's Digest

Anthony Paul* Nicholas Quin Hugh Van Es Ken Kashiwahara

UPI*

Saul Lockhart*

Off-Duty Publications United Press Internationøl

Bob Carroll Donald E. Ronk William McWhirter Arnold Abrams* Frank Ching Frank W. Beatty* Journalist Governor

Freelance photo grapher ABC News Voice of America CBS News

James Miller Udo Nesch

are bad. They keep interest in Club affairs active and vital. A necessary kind of evil in any social

ABC News

of members will not, it is assumed, be changed by the Extraordinary Meeting except for the presidential nominations.

Time Magazíne Asia Magazine Asia Magazine

United Press International

(l)

Keith Jackson Lorna Strauss

South Chinq Morning Post South China Morning Post

Associate Governors (3)

Kenneth Starger

Keith Robinson* Ronald P.Y. Ling* Bruce Maxwell* Thomas Clifford Martin Bishop Peter H. Miles* ' Tim Street

Cítibank Hong Kong Government Ling-McCann-Erickson Freelance journalist Catair Ltd. TCAC

Physician

Commercial Trademark

ervic es L td.

*Prevíous members of the Board. Dr. Miles was not a member but has served the post year as the Club Physician. The Correspondent,

April 1976

r'5

Bert Okuley: KeePing øn eYe

I ENTERTAINMEIüT

The¡

Libations and Silver Champagne flowed out of crystal goblets and goodwill out of silver cups April 7 when winners of the First Annual F.C.C. Yantze Tournament received their engraved, very expensive, super, ideally suited, delightfully - wrought prizes. As we announced before, winner

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After more than 50 Years research, development and ¡nnovation Bell & Howell are still leading the f ield in motion picture equ¡Pment. AnY re-

putable photographic dealer can tell you that the B€ll & Howell TQllseries of 16 mm proiectorc are the ¡mage ot quality.

Beu.E,HouJEtL Simply ingenious

of the Tournament was John Diggins (silver cup and two goblets). Runner-up was Sam Weller (smaller silver cup and a single goblet). Third was Mrs. Mary .Tackson (silver chalice) and fourth was Dr. Derek Seymour-Jones (silver mug). Mrs. Jackson also won a $100 gift

certificate

for highest single

game (439). Mike Westlake won the

booby prize - over-sized set of dice - ior his astounding low game of 89.

Tim Street presented the awards and the Club poured the champagîe.

Next year the challengers may not get champagne unless they can match the skill of these four adroit dice masters. So, get back to your practise

17'76

1976

Serving the Nation for

200 Years!

Toast to Goming: llínners ond Tim Street.

have

Slow Streaker In contrast to the

played a crucial rcle in usual speedy dash amíd gazes of amusement

and wonder, the Slow Streaker strolls with graceful aplomb and unhurried artistry as though confident ofhis skill. Thß style of measured grace may have reached a high point of perfection late on the evening of Friday, April 9, when a Slow Streaker lolled with studied - nay, totally self-sbsorbed - nudity about the northwest corner of the 14th Floor. The Slow Streaker began with a calm beer or two alone at the bar. He showed no sign of pre-perþrmance nen)ousness. Once in communion with the Three Graces (his eyes glossed over with the ecstasy of the moment), he walked delberately to q quiet spot. There he disrobed with careful dtgnity, neatly folding each item of apparel and placing it in an ordeþ stack on a chair. With the disdain of an emperor, he strode slowly toward the bqr, completely starkers. Many a mouth gaped and many an eye bugged at the sheer brilliance of this perþrmance. Daresay, such q superb Slow Streak has never been witnessed, certainly not in the Orient and never in memory within the F.C.C., which is quite a thestre for the qbsurd. Once his audience was brought to the fullness of awareness - but

not sated by over-exposure - he calmly retired to re-dress himselÍ. There was no opplause from the still-stunned audience. Exhausted from his concentrotìon, he strolled bqck to the bar where he ate a hearty reposte and fintshed a final beer. You, my children, may never live to see such an event. Alqs, it was not recorded, even on film. But the sight of that cherubic bottom waddling off+tage is seared into the memory of those who witnessed the first, and perhaps the greotest Slow Streak at the F.C.C.

The Correspondent,

I'HE PORTS OF PHILADELPHIA

April 1976

political

the

economic development

America since the Declaration

of Independence.

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PROFESSIONAT AFFAIRS

The Empire Lives Robert MorleY kePt F'C'C' members rollicking in an appearence at a Club Luncheon March 30, Proving himself once again

to be PerhaPs Britain's

most

cãnsumate comedian; certainlY its most articulate.

Morely was doing a stint at the Mandarin' Harbour Room, his fìrst nightspot act in manY Years, when

he kindly accePted a Club invitation. (Earlier this winter we had Dave Allen and Bob Moorehead, tough competition to follow')

The Bar Girl Saved MY tife

Batik's the Thing Ray Cranbourne, Hong Kong's enterprising Aussie photographer, has ówn two international awards for a series of colour PhotograPhs illustrating the art of batik painting'

The One Show of the Art

Directors Club of New York cited Ray's work for toP sales Promotion piciures and the CreativitY Show îranded him an award certificate for editorial design. The batik article appeared

Ray

moving some

His photograph ofthe results ofthe Tet ãttack on the U.S. EmbassY in 1968 appeare d in Newsweek' The ãccomPanYing PhotograPh

is from the batik series, but unfortunately our black-and-white limi tation fails to do the artistry of the colour original justice. 10

.Ë¡

¡t

"time may not be on their side" in

New Sense of Balance

improving standards

Southeast Asia is evolving into a

of new, balanced power relationships in which the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will play a key role. region

fought out on the battlefìelds of Indo-China." He said economic and social progress was the key to the region's problems and asked how outside

E. Talboys told the Foreign Corres-

felt continued American interest would

pondents' Club that he

was also developing.

"it

"Until very recently," he said, seemed inevitable that almost

any problem in Southeast

Asia

would involve outside powers." He added, "No one would suggest that this tendency has disappeared. But

it has been greatly

reduced."

Mr. Talboys, who also setves

minister

fo¡

overseas

trade

and

living,

tries of the region are now engaged in a competitive process which has little in common with the contest

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Brian

counter communist power moves in the region, but that a new internal balance within the region's nations

especially in rural areas. "As I see it," he said, "the coun-

nations could aid in solving the problem. "One thing is certain: Hon. B. E. Talboys

He said he

expected North Vietnam's "psychology of victory" to give way "to more sober assessments in Hanoi of where Vietnam's long-term interests lie." He said

they cannot help by sitting on their hands." He said he hoped the U.S. Congress and administration would see the proposition as clearly, as well as other nations

evolution from the present state of

While regional leaders appear not

confrontation between Vietnam and the ASEAN nations would be slow, and he called for patience. In one of the most informative

to be "panicky" and to have a reasoned perception of their situation, Mr. Talboys was unwilling, in answer to a question, to assess the capability of ASEAN nations to

minister for national development, was mid-way in a tour of ASEAN nations when he spoke to a Club

luncheon on Ma¡ch 27.

leaders appear

analyses of regional events presented

recent years at the F.C.C., Mr. Talboys reported that ASEAN

appreciate that

solve their problems.

"We shall have to wait and have patience," he responded.

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J The Correspondent,

April I 976

The Emasculated Media of java am a 'Mahaputra' (great son of the country)'My to the President confers on me ihis title' He invites me

re of blinding flæh;

palace butbs Ro

honours me"

.''

sia's higlrlY resPected

President.) -

and talented newsmen and editors, was speaking in

aA.wl managed to revive itby 1968itand it à;o;gh 19731when Suharto closed down in the

mild tones, almost in hushed voice' He sat at home in a large wicker chair, often leaning forward and occasionalþ peering at me througþ his

published

large spectacles. -it *ut utry early in the morning' The day was bright' with the tun uttt"dy high up, scalding' A typical day in Java. sun-kissed --

Anwar smiled wearily' His pretty and charming wife had served us hot, thin green tea' The sun's rays beat on the floating tea-leaves. Suddenly, ih"tt tus a long pause' W9 h4 been conother versing for-quite some time. Had we talked each to a standstill? Anwar flashed a wan smile. Then, came the Punch-line:

"Then, my President closed down my newspaper' Pedoman!" Anwar said he received a state medal too in recognttion of his "distinguished services for the country (in the n.t¿ of letters, literature and joumalism)"' All within a matter of several weeks, in rapid succesriott, o". event after another during the fag-end of 1973 and the beginning of 1974. Anwar, writer, autñor, novelist, broadcaster' political scientist and editor, is unemployed' And perhaps unemployable, too, in Suharto's Indonesia' ,ltt uútttot of over a dozen books - on politics' religion, Islamic history, literary history,. novel, essays and mernoirs - Anwár, Governing Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists' Association (PWI)' has written an Anthoro gy

f Indo nesiaïrt:i#iìlå;ll'"lil,il

;

y regular job- [ can't revive iith nny newsPaPer. . .' ."

some publications

Editor. grata But unlike Lubis, Anwar thougþ personna non with the Sukarno regime, is personna grata wilh lhe

to Roshian Anwar, I ld meet him again, on another daY.

I was ina hurry to leave as I had to keep an appointment with the elderly statesman, co-architect of Indonesian independence, Dr Mohammad Hatta'

ough free-lance columns to national and overseas'

(The closure of Pedoman and other Indonesian nrirp"p.r, in January, 1974, came in the wake of the

;i;åy;

violent antiæstablishment riots' which pock-

in 1974. (The riots were touched off by the unfortunate and stoìmy South-East Asian "odyssey" of the- former and läter disgraced - Prime Minister of Japan, Mr' Kakuei Tanaka. (The Suharto military junta was oul.raged when it ,roà n letter written by irate and militant students' which poured ridicule, venom and vitriol on Madame Tien Súharto, published on the front'page of Pedoman' (Madame Sùharto, who thinks she is cat's whiskers' has come - for some years - under increasing fire because of her alleged "vast stakes" in some business

marked Jakarta

about -- l;Orthem' . . course,

know many of them very well' for

very long. ' 'but' then, they closed down my newspaper

' ' 'Águin,

he smiled, shook hands and bade me goodhve and sood luck' For ,ñ*y y.utt after Indonesian independence' the countty had a very livel ,¡ and free-wheeling press' thougtr it wæ very heavily politicised, thanks to xenowhich hâs always characterised .South-East phobia ^fuia's largest, most populous - and potentially one of

the richest

The proliferation of newspapers and

nations.

And, as the late Dr Surkarno, amidst all his heroic stature and grandiose plans, took his nation downhill,

give the impression never had any curbs.

deceptive

news-sheets

Indonesia has

late last year. That's when

But only in the beginning. The shackle become obvious once anyone tries to wade through the forest of words, which clutter scarce news-print. How does Indonesia, with her acute newsprint shortage, manage to run so many newspapers? An American diplomat chuckled and told me: "Hell,. . . . . there are too many goddamm, shoe-string political groups and pressuring politicians with many financial pipelines whip their own newspapers into shape! "Of course, none of them have any impact on the Palace, which knows what the hell is going on."

Indonesian armed forces swept on to the shores of tiny hapless Eastern Timor - struggling under Fretlin's

Paradoxically today, two well-known newspapers which have dug in speedily, and doing extremely well,

the media began to stomach more and more draconian curbs.

Its

emasculation reached

its zenith even as Dr

Sukarno's overwhelming dominance began to display its true colours: vitriolic patter, astonishing political/

administrative ineptitude and inevitable collapse. After a brief spell of freedom under Suharto's military jackboot, the media was back to square one: suffocating shackles. One of the most striking examples of the cu¡bs on

the media was leadership

for

seen

independence

from

450-years of

Portugese colonialism.

by D.R. Rajagopal

are Chinese-fìnanced; patronised and managed by the small yet active Christian community of Catholics and Protestants in an overwhelmingly Islamic nation. The two are: Kompas, a popular morning newspaper,

For days, weeks and months of bitter fighting, touched off by a\ryesome might of Indonesian armed forces - they have never had any large-scale combat experience anytime - against the 650p00 population of phosphate-rich Timor, none of the numerous Indonesian newspapers carried even a line on the war,

þy an Indonesian Catholic, backed by the Catholic Church and patronised by the Catholic community. The other is: Sinar Harappan, a popular afternoon newspaper, edited by an Indonesian Protestant, backed by the Protestant church and patronised by the Pro-

which had galvanised global attention. When the five-member TV team from Australia was

testant community.

killed in cold blood on Timor soil, Jakarta feigned total

Times of Indonesia and The Indonesian Observer, arc mouthpieces of the Foreign Ministry. Meant primarily for thelarge and increasing number of foreign nationals,

ignorance.

Indeed, for the average reader in the country, it was everything was normal. Only Fretlin's "atrocities" against unarmed populace got into print and made headlines in Jakarta's proliferating media. In Indonesia today, as in the past, there are a very large number of newspapers. They army top brass has its own newspapers. Jakarta with its six million populaas

tion, has many morning and afternoon newspapers. Numerous weeklies a¡rd monthlies complete the "show" by the media. Understandably, all

the

Indonesian newspapers

standard "news-look." Inevitably, all reports are long, convoluted official statements, announcements by the army brass and inane declarations on some chore or decision by the Suharto regime. display consistently

The Conespondent;

April 1976

edited

The only two English language newspapers, 7Ze

they are rigidly controlled by tough army censors. They are vãry staid and ham-handed; lack-lustre in

for continued existence. A former Prime Minister, who is a versatile politi-

appearance, and struggling

cian respected for his scholarship and who commands even today alarge following, commented, "It is sad. . . in my country today we have lost good newspapers." Affable, charming, very helpful, elderly and yet very diligent - prolihc in his highly esteemed writings, he recalled the "splendid services" rendered by newspapers ltke Indonesia Raya, Pedoman, Abadi and many others. Slipping into a bout of nostalgia, he asked me: "Do you know why even well-informed people and officials refuse

co-operate

with you and don't cate to

forthcoming with nonclassifìed and basic data

be and

newsman gesticulating freely at one of the top PR fellows und indulging in rapìd-fire conversation' He was a Dutchman. He smiled. We shook hands and exchanged cards, and fixed up an appointment'

information you have been seeking perseveringly and so

hard?"

"Well,

let me tell you. Their attitude is simple:

'Father knows best.' The Government knows everything or thinks it does." He nodded in agreement when

The Dutch fellow took up the refrain, .... how many

mentioned yet another predominant factor: fear and suspicion among thousands of bureaucrats. in Indonesia today, compounding all this wretched state of affairs, is yet another factor - very galling too' It is: a surfeit of utterly fatuous Public Relations Officers on the civil service.

again:

here? Why, I have many days now. . you see my visa h

Hague. .

-*I

am sick and tired of all this. . . I have had very

They constitute the most ridiculous and most inhibiting factor - also an escape hatchet - bedevilling every activity, especially of the media. These "very lordly" PRs are most pervasive, though very short on precise factual information - which should be their forte. You meet them everywhere, at every office - public/ private, every corporation, every department, every loundation, every Ministry; and, of course, a very large

uction. . .?" have never heard anY' and my God. . . what

itanYwhere...Christ The PR fella never flexed a muscle' His smile never abandoned him. He began patting his bulging file'

Abruptly, the Dutch fellow rose and left in blew out soon after him.

fury' I

The obduracy and stone-walling by offìcials in Java up" by: frightening suspicion, ludicruous conceit, contempt and xenoPhobia.

are "made

knows what

means!)

- they are all invariably staff'

"Indonesai

nel. The plan has been rise was in 1941. Sta reality. That's Java for you.

Happening," Christopher Lucas

with passion, compassion

and

Given the reality - the fascination and quaint charm of this populous " Round the Equator," (as a 350 years ago), it is onlY though factual rePort with

last PaY

, this

Is A

wrote-many years ago perception. -

surrounded by large, servile and under-paid Last year, the Suharto Government announced a plan for a pay rise for Personis

Yet, in faimess, one should concede this: This "army" of PRs manages - and effectively too - they creute r hell of a lot of snalu. Fot they throw up all

comments. When the 70'year-old, frail'looking scholar/statesman

on his own volition - extended his five 10 minutes (he was bound to meet his dentist) and began speaking of his activities ("Yes I have taken to golf. I play twice or thrice a week; my

graciously

the spanners in all your works, all the time!. The role by PRs is most devastating and disruptive at the very large, populpus and cumbersome Ministry of Information and its equally big Press outfit dealing with foreign media. One of the biggest PR outfits has managed to effec-

minutes

tively cripple the "lifestyle" of the Ministry. Only personal experience by professionals shall convince anyone of this. The Defence Ministry, next door, well aware of this sloth and indifference, enjoys a belly-laugh whenever anyone mentions this fact.

After countless personal visits to the Press Offìce, PR outfit at the Ministry of Information, I had blown in once again, to try to obtain the necessary accredita'

handicap is 23. . . . .I miss several shots. . . ! my doctor advises me not to play. . .") I suggested if he would comment on armed forces'leaders. Dr. Hatta looked at his loyal, soft-spoken and mildmannered aide of 40 years' unflinching service, Hutha

Barat. His secretary looked at looked at me.

Dr' Hatta. And, both

know Suhatto," Dr. Hatta said, "when he was

Central Java... I know the Sultan (Hernengkubuwono IÐ when he was a boy in iogiakarta. I know them very well. I don't want to talk corporal in

tion.

about them."

maintained they couldn't care a damn for my questions

Dr. Hatta stood up, extended his hand, shook my hand warmly, turned around, collected his walking-

The Defence Ministry/Foreign Ministry insistently

all my numerous interviews with many prominent

Indonesian personalities, notwithstanding

unless

had the legitimate damned accreditation. Even as I walked in, I saw a tough-looking dapper 14

Again a smile and a Pause.

stick, and bowed me out. And briskly, he too stepped out, got into his car, with Hutha Barat, in the style of a mother hen, keeping an eYe on him.

IIEMBENSHIP On the Move Chief Inspector Graham White-

Neil Davis, that intrepid photographer/journalist who bums cigarettes all the time, stopped off for a brief visit on the way back to his NBC post at Bangkok. He covered

ley whose patronage probably has contributed substantially to the profits of the Club over the years, left on home leave. Photographs of him being accompanied to the airport by compatriots were withheld to protect the innocent, but this

the Angolan war, being one of these

to expose the massacre of English mercenaries allegedly by their own offìcer. He bums cigarettes to hold

pre-pre-departure picture taken much earlier that day may suffìce

show the tenor

down his consumption: they might be bad for his health.

of the event.

Jim Bennett of ABC and Jack Worth of NBC are both off for

There was hardly a dry i.

Beirut duty again. Men of markedly differing personal tastes, they enjoy

the repartee of television comradeship (a thing which doesn't always exist in that medium.) Both had Mid-east assgnments earlier this year. Their friends call them Flo and Glow. Ms. Gail Johnson who has served the Club ably this past year as Trea-

surer decided to switch her career

field from banking (First National

c o

City Bank) to accounting. She left for New York to take up a new posting in a major accounting fìrm there. The Board of Governors voted a special letter of thanks to Gail: she had the answers when they were needed, a rare thing these days with financial mentors

DRINKTOMEONLY E

ltFr,

WITHSWIFTASIA CLUBSPECIALS. H. Sichel Sohne German Wines, Maison Sichel French W¡nes, Wynns Australian Wines, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin Champagne.

Bangkok The SAS Daylight Express is the quick one-stop way between ng and from there' SAS offers pean cities fore flYing to New York with SAS v.

SAS-morethanaseat Anv Àrondav, Wednesday' fhursday' Fr¡day or Sundây' you lakã a connêcting morning llight to Bangkok where calch your SAS Daylight Express to Copenhagen

-'.. ::'t,': ..':-a ?.'::t: '.:Ì.='t':'r:.

-J/rî ,1(Ã /Jo t/vt Yt4iY t rPf tLEt For more cletails, contact vour travel agent or SAS/THAl. Ñew Henry House, l-long Kong