Keep It Free

"Salient" has received a copy of a recent issue of "The Voice of Free Indonesia," a weekly magazine published in Djakarta (the Indonesian name for Batavia, Java's capital) by the Indonesian Republic. It contains many articles of interest to students, political, philosophical and economic. "Psychological Observations on the Indonesian Revolution," deals with the various invasions of Indonesia, their historical results, and their psychological effects on the people. It also points out that the Indonesians, contrary to popular belief, are not savages but have a civilization and culture that has progressed considerably in the last twelve centuries.

Indonesia has always been under the rule of various invaders. However, the Indonesian people have always revolted successfully against the invaders but one invader took the place of another and today the invader is Dutch Imperialism. Therefore it is natural for the Indonesians to revolt against their overlords as it is natural for them to regain their independence.

There are several interesting articles on student life in Indonesia. They deal with the efforts of students to try to study in spite of lack of materials and text books. The students are keen and are doing their best in spite of the confused and disrupted times. One example of the keenness of the students to help themselves is the formation of the "Federation of Indonesian Students' Organisations." This is not a political organisation. Students of all parties are members but this does not interfere with problems which are common to all students. There meetings are held in order to discuss student problems only. This does not mean that the students are not interested in the problems of their country—they are. However, they feel that they must be sure of security before they play a constructive part in the construction of their own country